Marilyn Joyce Travers Ragan - The stocks and chains that bound Marilyn in this life have broken free and she now runs the fields of Heaven like a child with daisies around her feet. Marilyn was born November 10, 1932 in Aberdeen, WA to Charles and Myrtle (Aust) Travers. She died Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Providence St Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA. She was 81 and was a 12 year resident of Olympia. She grew up and attended schools in Hoquiam, Yakima, and Elma, WA. On July 23, 1954, she married Harry Coleman Ragan at the First Christian in Elma, WA., spending their married years in Raymond and Montesano, WA. They divorced in 1974. Marilyn was a very creative and talented woman. She wrote songs and poems, yodeled and taught herself to play the harmonica, accordion, guitar and organ. She loved to read the Bible, listen to hymns, pick blackberries, sew, crochet, garden, and cook. In 1977 a recipe she created for elk meat was published in a cookbook. Marilyn collected Avon, peacocks, and rocks. Her favorite color was red and her favorite foods were KFC, hamburgers, hot dogs and vanilla ice cream. Marilyn is survived by her son, Ed (Pam) Ragan, Anchorage, AK; daughters, Susan Ragan Day, Palmer, AK; and Mary Ragan, Olympia, WA. Her brothers, Charles (Ruth)Travers, Tatla Lake B.C., Canada and Don Travers, Matlock, WA. Grandchildren Tina (Andrew) Goodwin, Palmer, AK, Daisy (David) Croxford, Spanaway, WA, Duane (Catrina) Day, Ellensburg, WA, Kyle Ragan, Olympia, WA. Great Grandchildren, Victor, Linaya, Kylah and Echo Goodwin, and Spencer, Alexis, Ezra, Jacqueline and Levi Croxford. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Duane Travers and nephew, Doug Travers. A memorial service, potluck and BBQ will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2014 at Calvary Chapel located at 919 Division St NW Olympia, WA. If you can, please wear something red. Interment will be at Yelm Cemetery in Yelm, WA. Donations can be made to Christian Appalachian Project, Marilyn's favorite charity.

Published in The Olympian on Jan. 24, 2014