Joe Roy Ragsdale, age 87 of San Saba, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at his home surrounded by family and friends.

Funeral services for Joe will be at 10:00 am on Friday, May 26, 2023, at San Saba’s First Baptist Church, with Tom Brand and James Johns officiating. Burial will follow at Chappell Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 25, from 6 – 8:00 pm, at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba.

Joe was born to Roy and Sadie Ragsdale on March 2, 1936, the 100th anniversary of Texas Independence Day and Texas has been celebrating his birthday ever since. Joe was a graduate of San Saba High School and was known as a mischievous teenager who loved fast cars and pulling pranks as they popped into his head.

He spent his spare time working in his daddy’s store doing whatever needed to be done. By the time he was 12, he was allowed to drive to Sweetwater to pick up binder twine. When he was 14, he was picking up Farmall equipment or Buick vehicles all over the country. Joe worked in the oil fields of West Texas and did road construction running large equipment which he loved the most.

By 1962, Joe returned to San Saba to help his parents in their hardware store, Ragsdale’s. He was ready to settle down and the Lord had his future bride waiting at a reunion in San Saba. After a short courtship, Joe and Naomi Cobb were married on September 15, 1962, in May, Texas. They welcomed their first son, Lee Allen on June 28, 1968. He was the apple of their eye and they thought he was the only child ever born.

Another bright spot in Joe and Naomi’s life was when they were contacted by some leaders of their church about a young teenage boy who needed a place to live. When they met Elizar Mata, he walked through the front door and right into their hearts.

Joe continued to experiment in various business trades, windmill and pump services, and put Naomi to running the hardware store. Quite by accident, he got into the business of constructing metal buildings when he put up a plain pole shed at Martin Crutsinger’s place. One by one, people would drive by and talk to Joe about building them a shed. Joe came in one day and told his wife, “I kind of think we have just changed our occupation to barn building.”

In 1964, Joe ran for San Saba City Council and was elected, beginning over 40 years of service to the community. Joe was later elected as Mayor of San Saba and served four terms. He chose not to run again when his term was up, and he was ready to get out of politics. When the City Manager position came open, Joe was contacted by many to apply. After many prayers, he decided to apply for the position, and was selected out of 82 applicants. It was an easy transition for Joe as he was already involved in each project that was started. He served as City Manager for 13 years and retired in 2007. While acting as City Manager, Joe served on numerous boards including the Texas Municipal League, Central Texas Recyclers, and many others.

After retiring, Joe and Naomi travelled the United States in their RV’s with Worth and Patsy Isham and Jack and Donna Blossman, which they enjoyed for many years. They also travelled all over the US and Canada with their granddaughter, Hollee. Joe was a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge 612 in San Saba. He was a faithful member of The Fathers House where he was very active as a Deacon. Joe was a charter member of the San Saba Volunteer EMS and was Chief and Fire Marshal for the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a past member of the San Saba Rotary Club and served as President.

Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years and 8 months, Naomi; his son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Deborah Ragsdale of San Saba, and Elizar and Robin Mata of Sherman, Texas; his granddaughters, Hollee Ragsdale and Macey and Meredith Mata; his brother, James “Red” Ragsdale of Hurst, Texas; a special nephew, John Carpenter of San Saba; and many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Sadie Ragsdale; his sisters, Oleta Connors and Nettie Oma Carpenter; and three nephews.

Condolences for the family can be made online at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.