| Arlis Dale Ratliff Obituary
(From The San Angelo Standard Times (2/18/2002)
ARLIS DALE RATLIFF
BIG SPRING — Arlis Dale Ratliff, 77, passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, at
1:05 A.M. in the Midland Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with emphysema
and diabetes. Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Big
Spring at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, with the Rev Jerry Don Cheshire, pastor of
the First United Methodist Church of Higgins, the Rev. Claude McKiddy, pastor of
the First United Methodist Church of Garden City and the Rev. Al Stiefer, pastor
of the First Baptist Church of Garden City, officiating. Internment will follow
in the Garden City Cemetery.
He was born on Sept. 12, 1924, in Lamesa, Texas, and married Barbara Lu Currie
on April 1, 1955, in Garden City, Texas. He grew up in Garden City and was a
lifelong rancher. He served in the U. S. Army. He also held the office of
Glasscock County Commissioner for four years. He and his wife served as
Glasscock County Chairmen for the Howard-Glasscock Centennial. He was honored at
the Old Settler’s Reunion as Pioneer of the Year.
He was an avid sports fan, loved playing dominoes, and in his early years, was
an outstanding roper; he held the highest average in the Glasscock County Roping
Club for two years. He was big-hearted, kind and loved people; he never met a
stranger. His pride and joy were his family, his wife of 46 years, Barbara Lu,
his daughter, Laura Maud Huitt and his grandson, Luke Huitt.
He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Garden City,
where he served as officer in almost every church office, and took great pride
in the maintenance of the church yard, a gift he gave to the church for over 15
years. He was also a member of the Men’s Bible Class at the First United
Methodist Church in Big Spring, where he attended services for nine years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Ratliff and Ruthie Lawler Ratliff:
his brother, George Ratliff; his sister, Ruby Nelle Barfield and her husband,
Jiggs Barfield; and two nieces, Barbara Nelle Fonville and Diana Lu Currie
Nichols.
His survivors include his wife, Barbara Lu, his daughter, Laura Maud Huitt and
grandson, Luke Huitt, all of Garden City.
Pallbearers are John Sam Barfield, Garden City, Bill Currie, Big Spring, Jerry
Jon Currie, Big Spring , Freddy Chaney, Greenwood, Jose Lopez, Garden City,
Howard Engle, Adrian, Juan de Luna, Garden City and Michael Hoch, Garden City.
Honorary pallbearers are Lester Ratliff, Big Lake, Derwood Ratliff, Midland, Jay
Cunningham, Houston, Dale Cunningham, California, Kent Morgan, Big Spring, John
Currie, Big Spring, Jerry Currie, Big Spring, Duane Cox, Midland, Choc Harris,
St. Lawrence, Harry Love Calverley, Lubbock, James Currie, Garden City, Glenn
Riley, Midland and all of the men of the First United Methodist Church of Garden
City.
The family especially appreciated the loving care and concern that was given to
Arlis during his illness by Rosie Roberts, Hobbs, N.M.; John Sam and Mary
Barfield, Garden City; Bill Currie, Big Spring; Janet and Harry Middleton, Big
Spring; Wilma Dean Webb, Midland; Derwood Ratliff, Midland; and Elia Gomez,
Midland. Also, a special thanks to Mildred Harris, Billy Nunley, and Dorothy
Webster, his telephone and television buddies. We would also like to thank the
physicians who took wonderful care of Arlis: Dr. John McKenna, Dr. N.M. Patel,
Dr. Bruce Cox, and, the superior nursing staff on the fourth floor of Midland
Memorial Hospital and Best Home Health Care of Big Spring.
The family will receive friends at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home on
Monday, Feb. 18, 2002, from 7:30-9 p.m.
Submitted by Gene
Schafer on June 2, 2002.
Back to Obituaries
 |