Thelma N. Ragsdale, 87, Harrisonville, MO, died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at her home in Harrisonville. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO, with burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. The family will receive friends 6:00-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 2 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville. The family suggests contributions to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 504 West Wall Harrisonville, MO 64701.

Thelma was born February 17, 1921 in Archie, MO, the daughter of Henry A. and Delia Mary (Beegles) Bell. She moved with her parents to the East Lynne, MO area and then to north of Harrisonville as a young girl. She was a 1938 graduate of Harrisonville High School.

Thelma was united in marriage to John Lynn Ragsdale on December 21, 1941 in Harrisonville. To this union three children were born; one son, Donald and two daughters, Shirley and Patty. Thelma was a life-long Cass County, MO resident and had lived south of Harrisonville before moving to the Orr Community, near Pleasant Hill, MO. She and her husband moved to Harrisonville in 1987 after selling the farm. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, on September 3, 1989 and one brother, Ewing Bell. She is survived by one son, Donald Ragsdale, Harrisonville; two daughters, Shirley Qualls and her husband, Jack, Grain Valley, MO and Patty Ragsdale, Harrisonville, MO; one sister, Dorothy Parris Lamb, Escondido, CA; one sister-in-law, Florence Bell, Harrisonville, MO; two grandchildren, Jackie Qualls and his wife, Lisa, Lee's Summit, MO and Kimberly Beaty and her husband, Matt, Blairstown, MO; five great-grandchildren, Zachary and Samantha Qualls, Lacy, Miranda and Chelsie Beaty.