Sherry Raggio

Sheryl “Sherry” Denise Ames Raggio passed away on June 21, 2026. She was born in Morenci, Arizona on October 10,1950 to John Ames and Peggy Rascoe Ames.

Sherry loved the outdoors of Arizona and enjoyed it to the fullest. She would pack a lunch and climb the hills above Morenci and stay until she got tired. When she was 13 the family moved to Douglas, AZ and Sherry convinced her Dad to buy her a horse. This kept her outside all day but at least on level ground. After she graduated from Douglas High School, "Once a Bulldog Always a Bulldog," she was immediately accepted for Summer Classes at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Jumping into her 1947 Plymouth Coupe, she embarked upon one of the high points of her life as a U of A coed, "Bear Down Arizona."

After graduating with a degree in education, Sherry taught grade school in Tucson. One Summer, succumbing to the lure of San Francisco, Sherry and a friend paid the Bay Area a visit. There she met her future husband Dr. John F. Raggio. While they were dating, Sherry became a Flight Attendant for TWA and was based in New York City. The logistical challenge of cross country dating must have solidified their relationship and they married the following year. Six months later they moved to Atlanta, Georgia where John began his Neurosurgical Residency at Emory University.

When John completed his Residency in 1980 and with with their first son, John Warren, 2 1/2 years old, the family moved to Lake Charles where John began his practice. Soon a second son,Thomas Cade Raggio was born. Sherry was a wonderful mother to her sons and a loving and supportive wife to her husband, creating a warm and wonderful home for them all. Sherry’s smile and loving manner was always the soothing balm that covered the bumps and bruises and hurt feelings. She was a tireless supporter of the Episcopal Day School, having been Chairman of the Annual Fundraiser for several years and driving or chaperoning countless class field trips.

Sherry loved people especially her family and this expanded into her interest in genealogy. She was proud of her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and The Colonial Dames of America. When her sons left home for college, she took up MahJong and enjoyed playing with her group of friends for many years. She indulged her love of antiques with a kiosk at the Curiosity Shop on Kirkman St. and filled it with acquisitions from near and far necessitating one of her favorite things, travel. Sherry was always up for a trip and was an avid and adept travel planner filling the family’s vacation time with exciting and far-flung destinations, and earning her the email handle “goraggio.” She passed on her love of travel to John and Cade.

Sherry is survived by her husband Dr. John F. Raggio; her sons, John Warren (Sarah Houldey), Dallas, TX, Dr. Thomas Cade (Jason Marks), Washington, DC; her cousins Linda Young (Brian), Tucson, AZ, Katie Osborne (Ron), Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Jodie Pelusi (Craig Graves), Phoenix, AZ, Sandy King (Mike),Tucson, AZ, Andrea Arnason, Maricopa, Az, Dr. Michael Ames (Gail), and Chris Ames (Robert Kizere), Albuquerque, NM; her grandchildren, Allison Ames Raggio, and Ryan Thomas Raggio.

Funeral services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd at 4:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026 with visitation beginning at 3:00 PM in Hardtner Hall at the Church.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the ladies of LeeAnna’s Caregiving Service for the kind and diligent care they gave Sherry during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that any memorials be given to the Good Shepherd Foundation-Raggio Fund or the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.