Mary Louise Ragland

RAGLAND, Mary Louise, 70, of Hackensack, NJ died on Friday, March 11, 2016 after a long battle with dialysis and cancer. She was born July 4 in Talladega, AL to her father David Smith and her mother Louise Ragland Smith who predeceased her. She grew up in a large loving family with two sisters and two brothers. In high school she excelled in reading, writing and was great at painting, a passion which she enjoyed her entire life. Upon graduation, she set out to start a family. Mary married classmate David Sims in 1963, had 3 children and relocated to Hackensack, NJ. Mary worked at Hackensack Hospital and was a driven professional with a secret love of romance novels and hunger for travel. In 2011 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She remained dedicated in her work and in her will to fight her illness. She remained a brave, iron-willed woman and even managed to travel to Paris in her final months. Mary is survived by her son Benjamin Ragland, daughter Cynthia Williams, son David Sims, Jr., sister Sandra Stephens, and her brothers James Henry Smith and Dave Smith, Jr., her grandchildren Stefan Williamson, DesJau Williams, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister Jerry Storey.The family would like to thank the Doctors, caretakers and staff of Hackensack University Medical Center and Holy Name Medical Center for their excellent work and loving care.The family will receive their friends at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9PM. Service at the Funeral Home on Friday at 11AM. She will be laid to rest at Westwood Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10022 would be appreciated.