Nancy M. Ragatz

• Nancy Markham Ragatz

10/30/1941 - 5/11/2024

Nancy Markham Ragatz passed away on May 11, 2024 at the age of 82. She leaves behind a legacy of love and will be remembered fondly by many.

Nancy, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, enjoyed a wonderful childhood with her parents, Clarence Watson and Florence Kemp Markham, and her younger siblings, Christine (Kit) Markham Thomsen and Stephen Clayson Markham. Nancy attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, pledged the Pi Beta Phi sorority where she made numerous life-long friends, and earned a Degree in Psychology. After she graduated, she moved to Chicago and began working for the Hilton Corporation as an assistant to the Manager of Food and Beverages.

Nancy met her future husband, John Ballard Ragatz, on a blind date and they married on June 26, 1965. They later moved to New York City where Nancy was the assistant to the Manager of Executive Training at AT&T. After enjoying a second honeymoon by traveling Europe for a month in a Volkswagen, Nancy and John moved to Denver in 1968. They settled in Arapahoe Acres, a special, tight-knit neighborhood, and started their family. Nancy spent her many years in Colorado raising her children, Andy (Andrew Ballard Ragatz) and Molly (Molly Lynn Ragatz Caruso.) She was a marvelous and treasured mother. She also made a significant impact in her community through volunteering and generously sharing her time and talents. She worked as a Calligraphist and spent her free time in Jr. League, book and bridge clubs, playing tennis, biking, traveling, and laughing with friends. Her artistic talents were evident through her pottery, knitting, creative ornament making, and multiple other fun and interesting mediums. 

As a mother, wife, and friend of many, Nancy was deeply loved. She was appreciated for her sharp sense of humor, honesty, and caring nature. She was modest, a good listener, interested in others, an avid reader and beautiful in every sense of the word. She didn't have an enemy in the world. 

Nancy will be sorely missed by everyone that had the good fortune to know her - particularly her husband of nearly 58 years, her children, and her four grandchildren. Her siblings, extended family, and many longtime friends will miss joking, talking, and dancing with her. She was a bright star on this earth and will shine on brightly in all of our hearts. 

A private celebration of life will be held at the Denver Botanical Gardens, as well as a reception at her home sweet home of 55 years. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the American Diabetes Association or the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

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