Harvey Albert Ragan, Jr. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, passed away at the age of 86 on September 13, 2015 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington.  Harvey was born on July 11, 1929 in Boise, Idaho to Harvey Albert Ragan, Sr. and Nettie Martin Weston Ragan.   Harvey’s parents were in their forties when he was born and Nettie had a twenty-five year old son, Darrell Weston and daughter-in-law Esther Eslick Weston, who were starting their own family.  Harvey’s nephews Robert, Loren, and Gerald were like siblings to Harvey and this extended family provided a rich nurturing  young life with many camping, hunting , and fishing adventures;  traditions that he eventually shared with his own daughters.

Harvey loved animals and, even as a young boy, knew that he wanted to be a veterinarian.   His experience began during high school when he worked for a local veterinarian as a kennel boy (which he considered a huge improvement over collecting chicken eggs at his family’s farm).  Harvey’s veterinary studies at Washington State College were interrupted when he joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.  Harvey served as a Medical Corpsman at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington and with the Military Sea Transport Service where he provided medical care to injured servicemen returning to the States.  He resumed his education after the war graduating from Washington State College (now Washington State University) in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1959.

Dr. Ragan was a rural veterinarian in Burley, Idaho briefly before finding his professional calling as a Research Veterinary Scientist for General Electric Company (now Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory) at the Hanford 100F Reactor site Experimental Animal Research Facility in Richland, Washington.  He was a humble man who spoke very little about his own accomplishments but in the course of his career he became American Board Certified in Clinical Pathology, Toxicology, and Hematology, served on the National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP),  and was a member and then president of the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists.  During his career at Battelle he progressed to Director of Clinical Pathology, Manager of the Experimental Pathology Section, and Manager of the Toxicology.

Two of his career highlights were working on the impact to blood quality of artificial heart pump devices as a National Institute of Health Special Post Doctoral Fellow in Hematology at the University of Utah Medical School, and demonstrating the value of miniature swine in biomedical research as project leader on a 17-year study of the toxicology of strontium-90.  While Harvey didn’t brag about his own accomplishments, he was first to nurture and acknowledge the team efforts of the highly skilled and dedicated administrative, laboratory, technical, and animal care personnel who were significantly important to the integrity of the research findings he ultimately published.  His staff praised his ability to provide skilled leadership in an atmosphere of collaboration, mutual respect, and productivity, and appreciated his Irish sense of humor which lightened even serious situations.  Harvey believed that he was blessed during his 45-plus year career and often commented that during his career progress in the field of veterinary and human medicine resulted in newer and more targeted pharmaceuticals and many improved diagnostic procedures. 

Harvey took his career seriously, but his family was his life.  He met his love, Carma Bigler, while playing tennis in Boise, Idaho in 1947.  They married the day after she graduated from high school on June 10, 1951 in Everett, Washington.  They were a remarkable team and a couple who truly enjoyed a good life together while providing their family with a variety of experiences including annual trips to Twin Lakes on the Colville Indian Reservation, trips to the Oregon Coast, and years of boating on the Columbia River.  Harvey was an extraordinary father who nurtured his daughters with unconditional love, supported their pursuit of their life goals intellectually, kept them laughing with his quiet sense of humor, and modeled a life of love and respect through his own actions.  In their retirement years, Harvey and Carma traveled extensively and wintered in Mesa, Arizona golfing, engaging with family and friends, and enjoying the beautiful weather and sunsets. 

Harvey is survived by his beloved wife of over 64 years Carma Bigler Ragan; daughters Daryl Ragan (Greg Endow), Jennie Ragan Martin (David Feller), and Kari Ragan;  grandchildren Brian Looney, Erin Looney and Hannah Looney (Ian Miranda) and Benjamin Feller (Andrea); Great Grandson Camden Lee Miranda; first cousins Jane Hensel (Robert)  and Morris Southward (Lorraine); Corky Weston; brother- and sister-in-law Keith and Peggy Bigler, many Weston and Bigler extended family members, special family friend, Neil Cole, and grand dogs Archie and Oliver.

Harvey was preceded in death by parents Harvey Sr. and Nettie Ragan, stepbrother Darrell Weston and his wife Hester, stepsister Esther Weston and her husband Ben Reed, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers from Visiting Angels, Professional Case Management, and Guardian Angel Homes who provided remarkably warm attentive  care during Harvey’s decline into Alzheimer’s, and the Kadlec Medical Center staff who cared for Harvey with sensitivity and fondness during his final days.

A celebration of Harvey’s life will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Einan’s Events at Sunset, Richland, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, 1480 Fowler Street, Richland WA 99352 .