Rella Mary Ratheal, member of a pioneer East Plains family, was claimed by death at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Crosbyton Clinic Hospital. Mrs. Ratheal, 84, had been in poor health for several years.

Memorial services were conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Crosbyton with her son, Dr. C. Melvin Ratheal, Rev. R.C. Hester of Idalou and Rev. Leo Willard of McAdoo officiating.

Interment was made in Crosbyton Cemetery, under direction of Adams Funeral Home.

Six grandson served as pallbearers: Ronald Hardin, Charles Hardin, Ronnie Bass, Tim Havens, Ray Ratheal and M. Dale Ratheal.

Mrs. Ratheal and her late husband, R.C. (Clarence) Ratheal, were extremely active in East Plains and Crosbyton community and church life.

Mrs. Ratheal was a charter member of the Pansy Baptist Church, and was the first person to be baptized by the church. She was a lifetime member of the WMU.

After the previous Pansy Baptist Church building burned, the congregation met in a Ratheal barn until the present church building could be erected.

R.C. Ratheal was a church deacon, a Leatherwood School trustee, a Lighthouse Electric Cooperative director for many years and was a founder and first president of Crosbyton Senior Citizens. His wife was equally active in her community.

Rella Mary Starrett was born Nov. 29, 1899, in Cleburne, Tex., to the late Samuel F. and Mary Starrett, who were early settlers of the East Plains. The family moved to this area in 1908 from Cleburne.

Clarence Ratheal remembered when during a game at a party, he asked Rella "Would you put on a double-breasted harness and walk through life with me?" Her answer was "You bet your life I would!"

After the game had been completed, he sat beside his future bride and said "I meant what I said, did you?" Her reply was "Wait a minute. If you think that was a proposal, you will not get away with one like that." He then formally ask her to become his wife.

The couple was married Aug. 3, 1919, at the Starrett home at Pansy.

R.C. Ratheal preceded his wife in death April 3 of this year.

Mrs. Ratheal is survived by one son, Dr. C. Melvin Ratheal, Youngtown, Ariz.; two daughters, Winnell Hardin and Mary Havens, both of McAdoo; one brother, Conda Starrett of Crosbyton; two sisters, Hallie Sullivan and Lena Givens, both of Crosbyton; six grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.

One granddaughter, LaDawn Havens, preceded her in death in 1970.