01/16/2026
Sharon Hoke Ragsdale Barrett passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, at her home in Del Rio, Texas. She was born on January 7, 1939, in Santa Anna, Texas, to Fern McCaughan Hoke and W. F. “Frenchie” Hoke. Sharon is survived by several cousins spread across Texas. As the only child of Fern and Frenchie, Sharon spent her early childhood in East Texas.
After the passing of her father, Sharon and her mother moved to Santa Anna to live with her beloved grandparents, James Lee and Anne Soules McCaughan, who welcomed her with open arms. The land and memories made there became central to Sharon’s heart for the rest of her life. Living near her cousins, Betty Ann and Margaret, strengthened the deep family bonds she cherished.
Sharon graduated from Santa Anna High School, where she was a proud letterman in the Santa Anna band as a baton twirler. After high school, she spent time at McMurry University. While visiting her cousin Margaret in Albuquerque, Sharon met the first love of her life, Louis “Hal” Ragsdale. They married and spent time living in New York due to Hal’s work before returning to Texas, where Sharon built a life rich with friendships, travel, and meaningful experiences.
Sharon had a lifelong love of music and was a wonderful singer. In the 1980s, she joined the TCJC Madrigal Singers and performed in group recitals. She also sang at weddings for family and friends, adding something special to many important moments.
Travel was one of Sharon’s greatest joys. Her adventurous spirit took her around the world, allowing her to visit four of the five continents, with Antarctica still on her list. She delighted in exploring new places, embracing different cultures, and collecting beautiful keepsakes that reflected her love of the arts.
After Hal passed away, Sharon continued to travel with enthusiasm, joining a travel club and rarely staying home for long.
In 1997, Sharon met Tom Barrett, the second love of her life. They were married that same year and shared many wonderful years together. Though Tom was not as enthusiastic about travel, Sharon introduced him to many of the places she loved, and together they built a life centered on family, friendship, and laughter.
Even though Sharon lived in several houses during her life, her HOME was always Santa Anna. After her mother, Fern, passed away, Sharon and Tom lovingly restored the family home, spending countless hours enjoying the scenery, the quiet, and the sense of peace that meant so much to her. In her final years, she was thankfully able to return there often, reconnecting with cherished memories and the land she loved so deeply.
In the early 2010s, Sharon and Tom began traveling regularly to Del Rio to attend family sporting events. During those visits, they fell in love with the town, the people, and the strong sense of family, eventually deciding to make Del Rio their home. Sharon made friends wherever she went. She joined a bridge group known as the Dizzy Dames, and when she learned the group traveled to Cabo together once a year, she knew she had found her people.
Tom passed away in 2021. In the years that followed, Sharon continued to live fully, surrounded by friends, family, and treasured memories.
Sharon was truly one of a kind—adventurous, stylish, and full of life. She loved to travel, loved cars, enjoyed driving fast, appreciated great food, laughed often, and carried a sassy spirit that made her unforgettable.
Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 21. Visitation will be from 4:30–5:00 p.m., with services immediately following. A reception will be held at the Ramada after the service. Burial will take place in Santa Anna at the McCaughan family plot in the Santa Anna Cemetery.
Sharon will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
