Emma Lou Ragsdale Corder

Emma Lou Ragsdale Corder, 95, passed away peacefully in Benicia, California on June 6, 2023. She was born Emma Lou Carpenter in El Reno, Oklahoma on October 19, 1927 to Etta Claire (Donham) Taylor Carpenter and George Bryan Carpenter. She married Thomas Milton Ragsdale, Jr., the love of her life, on February 14, 1946. They raised their family in Oklahoma City and moved to the country when their youngest child was in college. They loved country living with chickens, a rooster, guinea hens, and peacocks. They were married for 47 happy years when Tom passed away on October 26, 1993. Emma Lou remarried Dean Edmon Corder on March 24, 2001. They were married until his death on April 16, 2006. Emma Lou was a foster mother to many babies and children for many years. She loved sewing, crafting, gardening, and hosting small gatherings and family at the holidays. She had a great laugh and good sense of humor. After the move to the country and for over 20 years she was Executive Assistant to Oklahoma State Senator Charles Ford of Tulsa. In addition to the work, she had fun at the Oklahoma Capitol Building. Her co-Executive Assistants dressed up at Halloween, as dalmatians one year and elephants another, held celebration parties, and played pranks on each other. She was surprised with a 70th birthday party where everyone, including her dapper boss, wore their best hats. She was predeceased by her husbands, Tom Ragsdale and Dean Corder, her son, John Ragsdale, and her favorite nephew, Donald Taylor. She is survived by her children, Thomas Milton Ragsdale, III (Linda), JoAnne Ragsdale, Sherris Ragsdale Prall (John), and John Maltbie (Kathleen), and by her grandchildren, Robert Dennis Kennedy, Sarah Christine Krasner, Thomas Milton Ragsdale, IV (Shelley), Laura Claire Grass, Rachael Anne Goosens (Zach), Daniel Lewis Grass (Edna), Adam Mirko Prall, Kimberley Catherine Florea (Taylor), Jonathan Thomas Prall, Mychal John Maltbie (Meagan), Jacob John Maltbie, and Atira Mercy Maltbie and by her great-grandchildren, Jacob Daniel Krasner, Tyrus Luke Krasner, Moira Anjolie Powers, Aurora Jo Beth Williams, Gideon Thomas Ragsdale, Mila Nascimento Grass, Lenore Grace Goosens, Emery Rose Maltbie, and Willow Jane Maltbie. The family wishes to thank the staff at Benicia Loving Care Home for their loving care for her for 8 years. A graveside service will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City on October 19, 2023, at 10:00 am.

Emma Lou Ragsdale Corder

October 19, 1927 - June 6, 2023