RATCLIFF, Roy A.: Died 1969

RATCLIFF, MORRISON, ARMENTROUT, FELLOWS, WILEY, RAIL, ARFMANN, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 2/20/2020 at 01:59:04

Roy A. Ratcliff

Roy A. Ratcliff, son of Aaron L. and Charlotte Morrison Ratcliff, was born in a log cabin southwest of Leando on May ??, 1878, and departed this life Tuesday, April 29, 1969, at the Van Buren County Memorial Hospital in Keosauqua, two days before his ninety-first birthday.

As a small child he moved with his parents to the Ratcliff homestead where the brick house. He located a mile north of Douds. Here he grew to manhood and was married on Jan. 28, 1900, to Pearl Armentrout. Their entire married life was spent in the Douds community.

Mr. Ratcliff engaged in farming and for many years operated coal mines in association with his brother, Howard, and his sons, Gerald, Dale and Ivan. The family moved into their large home on Main Street in 1922, when Mr. Ratcliff traded his farm northeast of town property.

He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, and throughout his long life was active in community affairs, particularly in the fraternal orders of which he was a member. He held the distinction of having served as presiding officer in the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. At the time of his death he was a seventy-year member of the Odd Fellow, his membership being in Van Buren Lodge No. 350 at Selma, and a sixty-three-year member of Starlight Lodge No. 350, Knights of Pythias at Douds. In his active years he was proficient in the ritual of all three orders, and conducted numerous fraternal graveside services throughout southeastern Iowa.

He was preceded in death by Mrs. Ratcliff in 1966, by a son, Dale, in 1962, and by two brothers, Howard and Harley; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Fellows, Mrs. Hattie Wiley, and Mrs. Gay Rail, and a great-granddaughter.

Remaining to mourn his passing are two sons, Gerald and Ivan, both of Douds; three grandchildren, Maurice Ratcliff of Fulton, Ill., Mrs. Shirley Arfmann of Cozad, Nebr., and Mrs. Marilyn Williams of Blakesburg; nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the community, who did his part to make this a better place in which to live, and practiced brotherhood toward all his fellow men.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 2 at 2 P.M. at the Pedrick Funeral Home in Douds, with the Rev. Dennis Nicholson, United Methodist pastor, officiating. Vocalists were Mrs. Keith A. Smith and Mrs. Robert Pedrick, accompanied by Mrs. Max Caves. Knights of Pythias served as honorary pall bearers and Odd Fellows as active pall bearers. Interment was in the Mount Moriah Cemetery near Douds, with Odd Fellows graveside rites.

Source: "Slutts Book", Page 356, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA