Obituary of Kristin Ragland

Kristin Mills Ragland made her journey home on Monday, July 7, 2008 after a long battle with brain cancer. She never quit fighting and never lost hope for a cure that will someday come. She believed that hope is found at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where the physicians never stop trying and, through their work with patients like Kristin, a cure will be found. Kristin was 35. Kristin was born July 23rd, 1972 to parents Stephen Kent and Marian Mills. She was born in St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended Holland Hall School from preschool through to graduation in 1991. Kristin attended the University of Tulsa, where she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. Kristin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Tulsa. It was in that final year at T.U. that she met her husband, David Ragland. Kristin was employed at Kenco Engineering Company until the time of her passing. Kenco Engineering Company is a third generation family owned manufacturing business in Tulsa. In her 12 years at Kenco, Kristin served in many capacities, including time served as Chief Operations Officer, making key management contributions. Kristin loved working side by side with her father, her husband, and her brother, on many projects. Her greatest project was being a wife and mother to her two children, Katie, 6, and Robert, 8. Kristin was a full time mom all throughout her ongoing illness. Her childrens' busy schedules kept her going and were a symbol of her tenacity and willingness to keep things as normal as possible. Prior to and during her illness, Kristin kept her body in the finest physical condition, so that she would have the physical and mental strength to fight the continual progression of her illness. Kristin was a gourmet cook and especially enjoyed cooking for her family and others. Her family and friends were recipients of many meals and baked treats that were an expression of her love. Kristin wanted to experience everything she could with her kids and expose them to as many positive things in life as possible. Kristin attended Bible Study Fellowship every week and raised her family to be faithful to the Lord. Kristin was preceded in death in December 2007 by her role model and loving father Steve and is survived by her devoted husband David, children Katherine and Robert, her loving mother Marian Mills, her loving mother-in-law Georgina Anderson, brother Ken Mills and sister-in law Sunny Mills and their son Bodhi Southard, her uncle Sam Martin and Aunt Sherry Martin, as well as many in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. Kristin's memorial service will be held on Friday, July 11, 2008, at First Presbyterian Church at 11 AM. Kristin found great comfort in the care she received from doctors, nurses, and others in the healthcare community here in Tulsa and in Durham. In honor of their fine work, the family is asking that donations in her honor be made to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University and the St. John Medical Center Foundation. Addresses for each can be found below: Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Box 3624 DUMC Durham, NC 27710 St. John Medical Center Foundation 1923 S. Utica Tulsa, OK 74104