Originally appeared in the Healdton Herald
February 28, 1957

Funeral services were held in the Harvey Bros. funeral chapel at Ardmore Wednesday for James F. Ratliff, age 62, retired oil field worker, who died in the Veterans Hospital at McKinney, Texas Sunday afternoon. Mr. Ratliff, formerly of Healdton, was a member of a pioneer southern Oklahoma family, the late W.B. Ratliff family. He was a brother of Bill Ratliff, Healdton police chief. Rev. Frank D. Spears of the First Baptist Church conducted the services with burial at Ardmore directed by Harvey Bros and Masonic graveside service. Jim Ratliff was born Feb. 14, 1895 at Keller near Wilson and spent his life in Carter County. He was a member of the Ardmore Masonic lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, a veteran of World War I and lived in Healdton many years. Surviving are his wife Lydia of the home in Ardmore; three sons, J.B. Ratliff of Wichita Kansas, Finas Ratliff of Lancaster, California; and Lyndon Ratliff of Seminole; one daughter Mrs. Ilene Huddleston of Gracemont; five brothers, Martin of Filmore California, Bill of Healdton, John of Amherst Texas, Charles of Lamont California, and BEN in California; two sisters, Mrs. Stella Robbins of Firebaugh, California and Mrs. Lucinda Berry of Herman California.

Below Information provided by ancestry member minnilou5

Uncle Jim fought in world war l. He was in France and was exposed to poison gas.
I don't know if poison gas was the cause, but later on in life JFR was diagnosed with leukemia.I know his drs considered the idea (of gas) being the cause and spoke with one of his sons about that matter. As far as we know none of his chidren or siblings have been diagnosed with leukemia. He died at the vet. hospital in McKinney tx. feb. 24 1957.