Patricia Ann (Belveal) Ratliff

Patricia Ann (Belveal) Ratliff

Patricia Ann (Belveal) Ratliff passed away on November 19, 2023, following a long illness.

She was born to the late Alverta Mae Green (Belveal) Rogers and Lysle C. Belveal on August 18, 1933, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She is preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Hubert Richerson; and her brother Larry T. Rogers, all of Wichita, KS.

Patricia met her husband, Ralph Ratliff when she was dating his friend. Patricia attended Wichita North High School and Ralph attended Wichita East High School.  Through mutual friends and several double dates, they fell in love. Their wedding was on September 8, 1952.  They were married until the death of Ralph in July 2010.

During their marriage, Patricia and Ralph saw a lot of the country and five provinces of Canada.

He worked for BOEING and was transferred to bases in other cities periodically. Their trip to Canada was from Caribou, ME where their second child, Sharla Ratliff was born.

The family also lived in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kansas. After Patricia gave birth to three children, the first in Kansas, the second in Maine and the third in Oklahoma, her mother asked Patricia if she realized there were fifty states.

Patricia is survived by three children: Stephanie Ratliff (Kelman) Thornton and husband, William J. Thornton;  Sharla (Ratliff) Smith, and Timothy Ratliff and wife, Susan Ratliff.. She is also survived by five grandchildren David Kelman and wife, Shannon Kelman; Benjamin Ratliff; Jennifer Kidd and husband, Matthew Kidd; Hilary Kelman; and Daniel Ratliff.

Patricia was fortunate to live to see three great-grandchildren Ashton Baker and Grant Hamilton; Laila Kelman; and Rebekah Kidd, as well as one great-great-grandson James Patrick Hamilton.

Her surviving nieces and nephews are Michael and Bobbie Richerson, James and Carol Richerson, Catherine and Don Coker and many other nieces and nephews on her husband’s side.

She is also survived by her close friend, frequent dance partner and brother-in-law, Max Ratliff and great-niece Dawn and Ken Sibley and children

.When asked what she most loved about her childhood, Patricia responded that her Uncle Charlie and Uncle Lawrence were so wonderful. They gave her motorcycle rides and played softball with her and other members of the family.  She also mentioned her love for her Grandmother Edith Gertie Green. She said her grandmother was her best friend. Evidently, her grandmother was an example of inclusion and love. People from all walks of life came through their door and were given a warm welcome.

When asked what she missed, Patricia quickly responded, “dancing and my high heels.”  Unfortunately, for slightly more than her last decade of life, she was in a wheelchair.  That condition did nothing however to dampen her zeal for life.

On August 18, 2023 Patricia Ratliff celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends. The party was held at Hillside Village of DeSoto. She made the comment she was overwhelmed by the attendance and the affection.

Although family was Patricia’s primary focus, she enjoyed working in nursing and floristry in her early adult life. Later in life, Patricia became involved with the Democrat Women’s Club and was elected National President. She represented the Democratic Party as a convention delegate. And she managed or assisted in campaigns for several state and national politicians.  Patricia was a devout Lutheran and deeply patriotic. She belonged to the Altar Guild and was a “red Jell-O Queen” at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Winfield, KS. She believed in service to your community, church and nation.

Those closest to Patricia will share she had an infectious laugh that filled the room. Her home was always open to anyone, especially at the holidays when she prepared amazing feasts.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Spring 2024 for family and friends in Winfield, KS.

These are two organizations the family chose for donations, The American Heart Association http://www/heart.org/donate  and The Diabetes Association https://donors.diabetes.org/.