Jeff E. Ratliff

Jeffrey Edward Ratliff died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, February 24, 2023 in Wichita Falls.

Jeff was born in Dayton, Ohio on June 16, 1953 to Paul Ratliff and Jean Lou Ratliff. When he was 10 years old, he and his family, including younger sister Cindy, moved to Tucson, Arizona where his father became a ranch foreman. Jeff remembers riding horses across the plains “Lickety-split” and having to check for scorpions in his shoes every morning. He graduated from Flowing Wells High School in Tucson, learned construction and craftsmanship from his father and uncle, and showed an early interest in playing music. From his uncle, he learned to play guitar, mandolin and piano, but his favorite was the guitar. He never learned to read music, but played by ear. After military service in Vietnam, he worked in construction in Las Vegas and Arizona, toured with various bands throughout the Southwest, and then in the Austin area. He finally settled in Wichita Falls where he worked in construction and remodeling and played music at various local venues.

In 2002 he met his future wife, Genie, while playing in a band at the American Legion, Post 202 in Wichita Falls. They were married in Austin, Texas on July 15, 2003.  He became stepfather to her children, Will, Kathryn, Pat and George St. Clair. The two youngest, Pat and George, shared Jeff’s love of music, classic Rock and Roll, Country and Western, and Crossover. George became a musician and lived with Genie and Jeff in Austin while playing with a Latin band, “Soniquete” at various Austin Venues. For a while, Jeff worked in Austin and Wichita Falls, and Jeff and Genie commuted between the two until finally deciding to make Wichita Falls their permanent home. Jeff and Genie made numerous trips to London to hear George play and loved the music scene there.

Jeff and Genevieve loved to travel and took trips to Hawaii, the American Southwest, England, Spain, trips to visit children in London, Bologna, Italy and Lyon, France, and many trips to California. They took two tours of Britain with Scholarly Sojourns and spent vacations in Baja California. 

Jeff was a member of the American Legion Post 202 in Wichita Falls for over twenty-five years. He and his band played for numerous charity events such as Toys for Tots and fundraisers to benefit various causes. Jeff was a skilled craftsman and in addition to the building trade, was knowledgeable in not only building and design, but electrical systems, plumbing and dwelling insurance. Jeff never met a stranger and enjoyed talking to anyone about practically anything. He was known for his love of story-telling and his sense of humor.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Jean Lou Ratliff; and sister, Cindy.

Survivors include his wife, Genie; children, Justin Ratliff of Tucson, Arizona and his family, and Crystal Markus of Detroit, Michigan and her family; stepchildren, Will St. Clair, a producer in advertising in Chicago, Illinois and wife Amanda; Kathryn St. Clair, a fine arts painter in Petaluma, California and husband Beau Bouverat; Patrick St. Clair, a fine arts painter in San Francisco and wife Maite; and George St. Clair in Bologna, Italy, a tennis instructor and teacher of English as a second language, and wife Alice; and six grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Care Team and Hospice of Wichita   Falls and the staff of Brookdale at Sikes Lake for the excellent care they provided Jeff.

Services for Jeff will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2023 at First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Boulevard, with Pastor Mark Bender, officiating.  Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Wichita Falls Alzheimer’s Association, 901 Indiana Ave # 350, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com