JAMES WILSON RATLIFF, 82, of Ranger, TX passed away
March 23, 2005 in Eastland, with burial at Evergreen
Cemetery in Ranger, TX.
James was born on June 16, 1922 in Ranger to A.J. &
Myrtie (Wilson) Ratliff. He graduated from Ranger
High School in 1940 and attended John Tarleton
Agricultural College in Stephenville from 1941-42
where he was known as "Stumpy" Ratliff and was
active in the Silver Keys Club & T.T.P. He enlisted
in the Army Air Corps during WWII where he served 3
& ½ years in the South Pacific. After the war he
returned to Ranger to operate the family business,
Ratliff Feed Store that was in operation from 1919
to 1984; and he later owned & operated Ratliff Real
Estate. James married Jean Jones in Fort Worth on
November 22, 1946. He enjoyed many hobbies including
raising Registered Angus Cattle for many years. He
was active in his community serving on many boards.
He devoted time & effort as a Ranger City Commissioner,
member Ranger Chamber of Commerce, Ranger Junior
College Board of Regents, director First State Bank
of Ranger, Eastland County Water Supply District,
President of Texas Turkey Federation in 1962, Ranger
Independent School District School Board Member when
the Ranger Bulldogs won the State Football Championship,
and a 50 year member of the Ranger Masonic Lodge #738.
James is survived by his wife of 58 years Jean Ratliff
of Ranger, son A.J. Ratliff (RHS-1966) of Ranger and
daughter Annabelle Allen (RHS-1968) of Abilene. He was
preceded in death by his parents.
WIFE: NELMA JEAN JONES RATLIFF, 86, passed away in
Ranger, TX on March, 11, 2011, with burial in Evergreen
Cemetery.
Jean was born November 12, 1924 in Peacock, Stonewall
County, Texas, to Thelbert Duffer Jones and Lena Bell
(Herrell) Jones. She graduated from Indian Creek High
School, South of Brownwood and attended Daniel Baker
College in Brownwood.
While teaching school in Ranger after World War II she
met James W. Ratliff and married him in Fort Worth in
1946. They were married for 58 years before the death
of James in 2005.
She enjoyed playing bridge for many years with her friends.
She was also active with her husband in their Registered
Angus Cattle operation and his real estate business. She
was a charter member of the 1947 Club, a federated club
in Ranger. She was a devoted mother to both her children
and dearly loved her pets. Jean was a long time member
of the First United Methodist Church where she was a
member of the choir and a Sunday school teacher.
She is survived by her son, A.J. Ratliff of Ranger and
Annabelle Allen and her husband Joe Allen of Abilene.