2nd Timothy 4: 7-8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Gazie Kelly Ragep, 76, of Elizabethton, went home to his heavenly father on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville.
Born February 10, 1941 in McDowell County, W.Va., he was a son of the late Khalil “Kelly” and Nadime Rassoul Ragep, who came to the United Sates from Lebanon.
Gazie was a graduate of Duke University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He was a Chemical Engineer and had worked for Monsanto Chemical, Raleigh, N.C., and Beaunit Fibers in Elizabethton for many years. He was a member of the Elizabethton Rotary Club and a member of Pleasant Beach Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Kelly.
Survivors include his loving companion and best friend, Eva Phipps, her children, Vince Phipps and Stephanie (Chris) Price, and her grandchildren, Alexander Price and Jamin Phipps; his children, Marci Ragep (Monty) of Oregon and Sam Ragep (Connie) of Elizabethton; three grandchildren, Megan Ragep (Justin), Kahlil Ragep and Sterling Ragep; one great-grandchild, Piper Domer; one brother, Jamil Ragep (Sally) Montreal, Quebec; one sister, Fouziee Underwood (Joy), Danville, W.Va.; and his niece and nephews, J.D. Underwood (Andrea), Kelly Underwood (Terri), Lina Ragep Powell (Michael) and Anwar Ragep (Angela).
Funeral services for Gazie Kelly Ragep will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, July 14, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mark Fowler officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with his brother, Jamil Ragep, giving a eulogy. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Saturday, will be Frank Richardson, Chris Price, Alex Price, Kahlil Ragep, Sterling Ragep, Jamin Phipps, Anwar Ragep, Michael Powell, J.D. Underwood and Kelly Underwood. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Slagle, Paul Burleson, Carroll Matherly, Bernard Ashley and his church family. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to Dr. Clifford Wiegand and the Fresenius Dialysis Staff and Dr. Mark Wigger and Staff at Vanderbilt University. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Saturday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel, 212 N. Main Street, Elizabethton, is serving the Ragep famil.