1926 – 2023

Ruth Jackson Ratliff, 97, of Madisonville, passed away on Nov. 29, 2023. A celebration of her life was held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at the Madisonville Funeral Home with Brad Brock officiating. Internment took place at 3:30 p.m. in Madisonville Cemetery.

Ruth was born on Jan. 25, 1926 in Madisonville, Texas to Wilson and Louine Lindley Jackson. Ruth had a close bond with her grandmother, Callie Lindley, whom she called “Mama.” She graduated from Madisonville High School in 1943. In her early years, Ruth was a telephone operator with Southwestern Bell Telephone when phone calls were answered and connected by a live person connecting the lines. Later she began her career as a business owner and hairstylist and opened The Beauty Shop just off the Madisonville square. She made the ladies of Madisonville beautiful with their weekly visits while keeping up with all of the local gossip.

Ruth married Lynn Ratliff Jan. 2, 1944 as Lynn was preparing to leave for service in the Army. They raised their children Lynda Ruth and Susan in Madisonville, Texas after residing for a short time in Cleveland, Texas. Ruth was an amazing cook, and she loved to cook for her family and friends. She was an accomplished seamstress who could make almost anything including hand-smocked dresses, beaded rodeo competition outfits, twirling uniforms, formal dresses and quilts. She was a shopper and loved bargains, and if she found something she really wanted and it wasn’t a good bargain, she would just go home and make it herself, often making it even better than what inspired her.

Ruth was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Madisonville and loved attending church activities, Sunday school classes, Bible studies and worship.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn, and her daughters, Susan Wells and Lynda Midkiff. She is survived by her sister, Voyce Park and husband, Charles; and her five grandchildren who called her Gran Gran, Charles (Trey) Bedinger, III, Laura Midkiff, Callie Scott and husband, Vaughan, Lynley McCarley and husband, Tee, and Haley Webster; seven great grandchildren, Jackson Scott, Sophia Scott, Brynna Barrett, Susan McCarley, Anne McCarley, Wallace Webster and Thomas Webster.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff of caregivers at Village Green Assisted Living and Memory Care in Cypress, Texas for the loving care they provided to Ruth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to First United Methodist Church of Madisonville.

Arrangements were under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.