Bobby Ratliff Sr.

Bob Ratliff, Sr. left us to join his son, Bobby Gene, Jr., granddaughter Brandi, and father, Earl on August 22, 2022.

He was born in Ponca City Hospital to Erwin Earl Ratliff and Helen Josephine Domeny Ratliff on October 15, 1941.  During his stay at the hospital, the love of his life, Bessie Cales was also being born and the two young mothers shared a recovery room. Bob and Bessie met as newborn babies and it was their destiny that they be reunited in holy matrimony years later.

Bob attended Red Rock Schools in the first and second grade then transferred to Marland.  He was a member of 4-H and FFA.  He enjoyed showing animals and won numerous awards including pen of 3 and 5 lambs and State Farmer Award.  He played basketball and baseball in high school, graduating from Marland High with the class of 1959.  He went on to attend NOC in Tonkawa.  He was on the Judging team at NOC placing 9th at Dallas, TX, and was awarded American Farmer Degree at Kansas City, Mo.

Bob and Bessie were married on October 21,1961 at the First Christian Church of Ponca City.  They celebrated their 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary in October of 2021.

Bob had many hobbies, his favorite time spent was on the back of a horse where he was an accomplished left-handed roper. Team penning, sorting cattle on Hank, nursing sick cattle back to health, and chasing down that one steer who didn’t want to go in the pen were some of his best times. He was a gifted blacksmith, carpenter, welder, hunter, and an avid reader.  He was always there to help the neighbors, enjoyed raising colts, keeping bees and most of all spending time with the grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his father Erwin Earl Ratliff, son Bobby Gene Ratliff, Jr. and Granddaughter Brandi Lane.

He leaves behind to mourn his loss, wife Bessie of the home, daughter Jan and husband Rickey Burk, daughter Cindy and husband Darrin Lane, sister Carolyn Davis and husband Tom of Perry, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, his mother Helen Ratliff.

Friends and family are welcome to stop by Brown-Dugger Funeral home of Perry for a come and go Celebration of his life on Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 5p.m. until 8 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.  Donations in his name may be made payable to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500 Chicago, Illinois 60611