Ralph Lee Sewell (89) passed away peacefully at his home in Monroe, LA, on August 19, 2025. A beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and neighbor, Ralph was born and raised in Arkansas.

The son of a preacher and the younger of two brothers, Ralph grew up loving Western movies, country music, and the traditions of outdoor life. His joy for hunting and fishing grew into a lifelong passion that led him to become a member of Cowboys Deer Camp for 40 years and serve as its President for 25.

Even as a young man, Ralph felt a deep calling to build a family, envisioning a life where he’d raise a household of five children. That dream came true when he met and fell in love with his future wife, Maggie — along with her five children: Alfred, Marilyn, Patrick, Christopher, and Susan.

Maggie and Ralph were married in January 1964 and remained together for the rest of his life — 61 years full of travel, stories, and dinner-table banter.

Ralph spent his working years selling hair products and beauty supplies for Cook Beauty Supply, calling on salons across the region. A natural-born storyteller, Ralph loved visiting salons, meeting with both stylists and owners, and building long-lasting friendships with the hundreds of people he met while driving across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas for 45 years.

His years on the road prepared him for countless trips with his grandkids — adventures across the country from California to Montana to Florida and every state in between. Ralph cherished every opportunity to be with his family, showing up for dance recitals, wrestling matches, plays, football games, graduations, weddings, crawfish boils, family reunions, and all the moments that mattered most.

His devotion to family, friends, and career was matched by his steadfast faith; he was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA. Although Ralph wasn't a preacher like his father or his brother, the way he walked through life exemplified that of a servant leader.

Ralph's character is best reflected by 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

A long, well-lived life — Ralph will be deeply missed.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, James Ralph Sewell and Ruby Lee Richardson Sewell; his sons and daughters, Alfred David Gallagher Jr., Marilyn Ann Lovett, Christopher Paul Gallagher Sr., and Susan Gail Gallagher; his brother, Reverend James Harold Sewell Sr.; his parents-in-law, Dr. Frank P. Rizzo and Gussie Zagone Rizzo; his brothers-in-law, Dr. Frank Paul Rizzo Jr. and Carl Denman Smith; his sister-in-law, Joanne Rizzo Smith; and his nephews, David Sewell and Frank Paul Rizzo III.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Agnes Sewell; his son, Dr. Patrick Timothy Gallagher Sr. (wife Shannon Gallagher); his grandchildren, Christopher Paul Gallagher Jr., Sarah Elizabeth Deel (husband Brian Deel), Stoddard Lee Schleuter, Matthew Alexander Gallagher, and Patrick Timothy Gallagher Jr.; his great-grandchildren, Katlyn Michelle Gallagher, Duke Weston Deel, and Mclaine Birdie Deel; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Sewell; his sons- and daughters-in-law, Woody Lovett, Vikki Denise Southern, Monya Ann Futch, and Ron Schleuter; his nieces and nephews, James Harold Sewell Jr. (wife Jenene Sewell), Becky Moore, Lauree White (husband Jim White), Lisa Campbell (husband Wilson Campbell), Chris Rizzo (wife Kristy Rizzo), Kevin Thomason (wife Lisa Thomason), Vicki Smith, Kevin Smith, Karen Bergh, and David Smith; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation with the family will be held at First Methodist Church in Monroe, LA, at 1:00 pm Friday November 14, 2025. A memorial service will follow directly after at 2:00pm.

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