Oma Joyce Ratliff

Oma Joyce Ratliff, 81, passed away on Friday, March 6, 2015. She was born on May 6, 1933 in the country outside of Anadarko, OK. She was the youngest of seven children born to Oma Myrtle (Underwood) and Mark McClure Tallent. Joyce spent her early years going to school at Washita, OK and moved to Fort Cobb when she was in the 8th grade. She graduated from Fort Cobb High School, with 16 in her class, in 1951. She became engaged to David Ratliff and they were married in 1952 at Paso Robles, CA where David was serving in the US Army at Camp Roberts. Joyce later joined him in Heidelburg, Germany. After returning home she worked as Secretary to the Registrar at Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha. David and Joyce later made their home in Fort Cobb where 3 wonderful children were born; David Mark, Laura Jo and Matt David. Joyce attended Oklahoma University and worked at Star Manufacturing for 11 years. David and Joyce were divorced and she and the children took care of each other. She went into the insurance business and sold insurance for over 20 years. For Joyce, her children were always first and she provided for them. They have all three grown up to be professionals. She was always very proud of them. Joyce liked to do many things, at the top of the list was travel and she did a lot of that. She liked crafts and made some beautiful baskets. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Southern Hills Baptist Church and a Christian Women's Group. Second only to loving and caring for her children was her love for her grandchlildren; Tana, Tara and Mason. She loved being with the kids and spent a lot of time with them. You couldn't talk to Joyce very long without hearing children and grandchildren stories. She was very proud of them. Joyce loved looking at the sky at night and would call you up and tell you to look for something that was going on with the planets. Her wish was that her tombstone would read " I saw Halley's Comet in 1986". She had several cats and dogs throughout her life. She always took in homeless animals. Joyce had a special connection with people and many have commented that she was like a mother to them and how much they loved her. She is survived by her children: David Mark Ratliff of Oklahoma City, OK, Laura Jo Ratliff of Oklahoma City, OK and Matt David Ratliff and his wife, Dana, of Fulshear, Texas. Her Grandchildren: Tana Schuermann and her husband, Matt Tara D'Angelo and her husband, Jim Mason Ratliff Her Great-Grandchildren: Joel, Abigail, Caleb and Eriana Her sister, Bernice Henderson, Fort Cobb, OK Several nieces and nephews. Celebration of Life Services will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 85th and S. Penn, Oklahoma City, OK. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fort Cobb, OK Services under the direction of Fort Cobb Funeral Home, Fort Cobb, OK. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family at: www.smithfuneralservices.com

Oma Joyce Ratliff

May 6, 1933 - March 6, 2015

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