Frances Ratliff

Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Lance Herrington of Paramount Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Griggs-Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors 5400 S. Bell St.

Frances Strickland Ratliff was born Sept. 14, 1922, in Mexia. She married the Rev. LV Ratliff Jr. on Jan. 20, 1944, in Brownfield. They were married for 58 years, prior to his death in 2002. Frances graduated from Hardin Simmons University 1947. While at Hardin Simmons, she received the Julius Olsen Award, the highest honor bestowed by the university. The award was the equivalent of a valedictory honor. She also received the Delta Kappa Gamma Award, given by the women’s professional educational sorority for the highest ranking graduate. Frances earned a Master degree from West Texas State University in 1962. She was a sixth grade teacher for 22 years at Oak Dale Elementary and absolutely loved teaching. She also taught Sunday school for numerous years. After retirement, she and her husband enjoyed numerous mission trips to Brazil with their church family at Paramount Baptist Church. Her life was exemplified by her strong Christian faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, L.V. Ratliff Jr; an infant daughter, Marsha Diane; and a son, Robert Harold.

Survivors include three daughters, Marilyn Simpson and husband Greg of Hurst, Carolyn Evans and husband Evan of Edmond, Okla., and Janet Ratliff and husband Leon Clifton of Seabrook; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Gideon’s International.