Michael Todd Ragsdale

Michael Todd Ragsdale, age 53, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Tyler, TX, after being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer just days prior. He was born in Arlington, TX, on June 18, 1971, to Michael Lee Ragsdale and Dinah Shields Ragsdale.

Todd, along with his identical twin Tim and sister Leigh, played for a few weeks each summer with their first cousins, Ty and Ben. This time forged deep and lifelong friendships as close as any could be, even after life began usually limiting extended family visits (which saw over time the growth of the first-cousin club from 5 to 8) to the annual Thanksgiving gathering. Todd was happy during the recent elder cousin reunion even though it had to be held in the hospital.

He spent his elementary school years in Arlington before the family moved to Lindale, Texas in 1983. Todd was a proud member of the Lindale Eagles football team, graduated from LHS in 1989, and maintained friendships with many classmates, including one who visited him in the hospital and many who quickly reached out to Tim with condolences.

He later moved to Tyler and worked for many years for Brookshire’s Grocery Distribution Center, eventually becoming roommates with one of his co-workers. Although Todd ultimately decided to change careers and enrolled in Tyler Junior College’s radiologic technology program, he maintained friendships with members of his Brookshire’s family, some of whom visited or called him in the hospital.

After earning his radiologic technologist certification and later his computed tomography technologist certification, Todd gained a new friendship group among his UT Health Tyler colleagues, too. The support these heroes showered Todd and his family with - food, visits, gifts, information, advice, notary services, prayers, comforting songs and messages, and so much more - was nothing short of an avalanche of love.

Approximately fifteen years ago, his online gaming hobby introduced him to an additional circle of friends. They played on a regular basis, sometimes the same game, sometimes different ones, but always talking nonstop on an open channel. Their shared friendship and appreciation for tasty food spawned a California vacation during which they enjoyed dining at a new place each night. Two in this group supported Todd by traveling from California and Canada on short notice to see him in the hospital, and coordinating a video call with a third friend from their group. His family heard “Love you, Bro” spoken to Todd many times during this visit.

In 2000, Todd married Christy, and in 2004, she gave him what he valued most in this world - his daughter Alie Grace. Though they would later divorce, their shared devotion to Alie cemented them as forever friends. The loving care she gave Todd, his sister, and his mom during his hospital stay was daily and impactful, and she will always be part of the family.

Todd’s family and friends will always remember his easy going nature, hard work ethic, love of sports, ability to pull a good prank, lack of a TMI threshold, self-deprecation, and sense of loyalty. They already miss his dry sense of humor and ready smile.

He was preceded in death just seven months ago by his beloved father. In addition to his mother, siblings, and daughter, he is survived his Uncle Todd and Aunt Mary, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Steve, cousins Ty, Ben, Jude, Kate, and Will (along with their spouses and children), brother-in-law Larry, nephews Michael and TJ, niece Paige, and sister-in-law Casey, all of whom loved him dearly.

The family invites you to a celebration of Todd’s life, which will include a memorial service followed by a casual meal and an opportunity to toast the gentle giant he was. Please dress comfortably and plan to share a favorite story if you wish. The family also requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation in lieu of flowers to an educational scholarship fund, administered by the local Kiwanis Club, which will be awarded to a 2025 Lindale High School graduate in Todd and his father’s memories.*

Saturday, March 8, 2025,

5:00 PM

The Lodge

302 Hideaway Lane Central

Hideaway, TX 75771

(Visitors must be prepared for the driver to show ID at the security gate and advise that you are attending the Ragsdale service.)

* The scholarship fund was started last August after Todd’s father passed away from the same type of lung cancer with which Todd was diagnosed. Now it will be presented as the “Michael Lee Ragsdale and Michael Todd Ragsdale Memorial Scholarship.” Donations delivered during the service may be placed in the Kiwanis box next to the guest register. They may also be earmarked “Ragsdale Scholarship” and mailed to the Kiwanis Club of Hideaway - Lindale, PO Box 1316, Lindale, TX 75771. (While the family is not notified of individual donation amounts, they do send a personal note of gratitude for every contribution.)