Ozelle Ratliff Howe

Ozelle Ratliff Howe, 90 a longtime resident of the Fort Sumner Valley died Monday, September 15, 2003 at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, NM following an illness. Ozelle was born August 27, 1913 at West, New Mexico in Quay County to the home of Add C. West and the former Grace Lawson. She attended school at Fort Sumner and following graduation attended Highlands University at Las Vegas, New Mexico. She then went to work for the state at Santa Fe. She married Arville Marshall “Mark” Ratliff on April 23, 1938 in Fort Sumner; they made their home in the Fort Sumner Valley. Ozelle devoted many years of her life to public service including 25 years as De Baca County Assessor and 25 years as Secretary to the Fort Sumner Irrigation District. Ozelle enjoyed her farm in the Fort Sumner Valley and until the last few years was still irrigating and picking pecans. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner. Ozelle married Leo Howe of Duncan, Oklahoma in 1975. Ozelle was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was preceded in death by her husbands Arville Marshall “Mark” Ratliff in 1971; Leo Howe; her parents Add C. West in 1937 and Grace C. West in 1956; a son Marshall “Sonny” Ratliff on May 31, 1989; and two brothers Vane West and Woodrow West. Survivors include a daughter Marqua Ratliff of Fort Sumner, NM; a son Mickey Ratliff and his wife Nickie of Vienna, Virginia; one granddaughter Melanie Ratliff of Hale Center, Texas; a sister Addie Whittington of Midland, Texas; four brothers Sidney “Red” West and wife Peg; Cecil West, and Jake West and wife Leona all of Fort Sumner; and Denton West and wife Nina of Burnsville, NC. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends and good neighbors. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 20, 2003 from the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Monty Leavell officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Stephen Ratliff, Bill West, James West, Allen West, Brian West, and Glen West. Honorary bearers will include Neal Vaughan, Nita Overton, and Lamar Luna. The family prefers memorial contributions to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, Box 180, Fort Sumner, New Mexico 88119 or to the American Cancer Society. Visitation hours will be Friday from 10am to 6pm at the funeral home. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 www.chavezfuneralhome.com