Irene Ratliff

Irene McGregor Ratliff, 100, resident of Carillon, passed away Friday, February 8, 2013. She was a native Texan born December 21, 1912, on the family ranch in Haskell County, Texas. A descendant of several Texas pioneer families including Charles Fordtran, one the first German settler in Texas, William Brookfield, an early Austin Colony settler & Dr. Gregor McGregor, a doctor from Waco, Tx whose home is a part of the Winedale Historical Center in Winedale, TX. Irene graduated from Haskell High School, studied in York City and at Baylor University. In 1954, she married O. B. “Charlie Ratliff, a lawyer and rancher, and in 1945 they made Lubbock, Texas their home. A gifted artiest, Irene was known for her birds carved out of wood & combined with stain glass or oil painting. She had a wonderful sense of humor & was a great story teller. Irene wrote a book called “Little Mom, from Heaven to Texas & Back” about her sweet German mother & her family history. Irene was a loving, caring & compassionate person who volunteered her time to drive cancer patients to their doctor appointments. She loved nature, whether it was walking the canyons at her family ranch or feeding the birds & tending to her garden in her backyard in Lubbock. Irene was active in the Lubbock Garden Club, Koshari Club & the Lubbock Country Club. She was a strong Christian & helped start Raintree Christian Church. A loving mother & grandmother, Meema left a wonderful legacy to her family and will be missed by all who loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband, O.B. “Charlie” Ratliff of 60 years, her parents, Charles & Juliana McGregor and 2 brothers, Carl & Gregor McGregor. She is survived by her daughter, Almeida “Skeet” Workman and husband, Don of Lubbock, TX; a son, Alan Ratliff & wife, Elizabeth of Frisco, TX; grandchildren, David Workman & wife, Melissa of Wolfforth, TX, Mark Workman & wife, Diana of San Antonio, TX, Susan Hare & husband, John of Brenham, TX, Margie Boyd & husband, Tony of Tyler, TX; great grandchildren, Stephanie& Quince Workman of Wolfforth, TX, Neal & Juliana Workman of San Antonio, TX, Juliana, Caleb & Tressie Hare of Brenham, TX and Luke & Jake Boyd of Tyler, TX. A celebration of her life will be held at Southcrest Baptist Church on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Graveside services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Willow Cemetery in Haskell, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Raintree Christian Church in Lubbock, TX or the Salvation Army.

Irene Ratliff

December 21, 2012 - February 8, 2013