Earl Troy Ratliff

Earl Troy Ratliff, 86, of Texarkana, Arkansas, passed away Monday, February 21, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. He was a veteran of World War II and a long-time minister who served as pastor to nearly a dozen churches throughout Texas and Arkansas, including Hillcrest Baptist and Grand Avenue Baptist in Texarkana. He is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Doris Ratliff, of Texarkana; their son, Mark Ratliff, of Springdale, Arkansas; his parents, Garland Ratliff and Fannie Franklin, and brother and sister-in-law, Devoe and Eva Ratliff, all of Jonesboro. Survivors include a son, Michael Ratliff, and his wife Sharon, of Tyler, Texas; a daughter, Dr. Phyllis Miller and her husband, Dr. Anthony Burton, of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren, Karen Henry and her husband Larry, of Fayetteville; Kyle Henry, of Dallas; Jenny Sawyer and husband Joel, of Keller, Texas; Matthew Ratliff and wife Kelli, of College Station, Texas; Susan Ratliff, of Dallas; Julie Edwards and husband Greg, of Richardson, Texas; and Sarah Ratliff, of College Station. Earl Ratliff is also survived by three sisters, Lorene Deeter and Betty Kathel Lawrence, of Walnut Ridge, and Avo Webb, of Jonesboro, as well as eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, followed by graveside services at 2 p.m., both at Chapelwood Funeral Home in Nash, Texas.