Hattie Sims was the oldest of nine children born to George and Emily Farmer Sims. She grew up around Pauls Valley and attended school at a small country school called Union Springs. She grew up at a time when kids walked miles to school and the weather or how old you were really didn't matter. Mother had a hard life, she worked in cotton fields from an early age, helped cook and take care of the babies. Their house burned in 1927 and she lost a 17 yr old sister, Nellie, in the fire. Her Mother had lost three babies before she was born. Other siblings were Alice, Kenneth, Leslie, and Jack. Now only Jack remains.
Joe Ragan came into her life while she was still in High School, he lived in Texas and was the nephew of their neighbor. She married him in 1932 at the age of 19 and they moved to Texas and started their family. Delois was born in August of 1933, 13 years later in August, Luann was born.
Mother was such a kind loving person. She babysat in her home from the time I was about 6 yrs. old. Every child that stayed with her never wanted to go home. She had that Grandmother persona that so many of us wish we had and wonder how she was different. Delois and my kids were the same way. Some of their best memories were at "Nana's" house or "Mamaw" as Delois's kids called her. She was Nana to my kids and grandkids. They always fought to sleep with her because she told them stories of when she was young and they loved that. She always had time for the grandkids and great grandkids. One of my granddaughter's who is nine said the other day that Nana was the only one who would play hide and seek with her and her friends.
Mother put God first in everything and taught her family to do the same. There were several well used Bibles for us to share when she passed away. She and my Daddy were the most honest people you could hope to meet. And they treated people the way they would want to be treated.
Mother was a wonderful cook and no one left our house hungry. She raised a garden every year and Daddy always had a calf or hog in the freezer. When we had gospel meetings, Mother and Daddy always helped feed and house the preacher.
She moved in with us after Daddy passed away in 1982. We loved having her in our home.
She developed some dementia in about 2000, it was slow developing and there were still lots of things that she could do. She loved to rake leaves and pick up pecans. She kept our porch and sidewalks clean and she folded most all the laundry and helped with the dishes. She was always looking for something to do.
Her health was very good for her age, she seldom had to see a doctor and didn't take much medicine. She loved having some of the great grandkids close and she helped care for them. She became a great great grandmother just four days before she passed away. She never got to see her but saw her picture.
She is survived by her daughters, Delois and Luann; six grandchildren, Mark, Joe, Deann, Stephanie, Angela and Jennifer (Cami); eleven great grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, Christina, Jamie, Melissa, Kimberly, Stacie, Scott, Sandi, Jenna and Jalie, and one great great granddaughter, Meredith. She is also survived by two special sisters in law, Laura and June, and many neices and nephews.
Mother will always live in our hearts, she was a special Mother and she is so missed.
