Gail E. "Tub" Ratliff

Gail E. "Tub" Ratliff, age 85, of Westphalia, Kansas passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at The Medicalodges Iola, Kansas.

Gail Edward Ratliff was born on April 7, 1938 at home in the Iantha neighborhood near Harris Kansas. He was the third of six children born to Zenn T. Ratliff and Grace Lucille "Billie" (Chitwood) Ratliff. The family moved to their farm near Cherry Mound when he was a toddler. Tub attended Cherry Mound School before graduating from Westphalia High School with the class of 1955, as the student class president.

On May 5, 1956 Tub was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Luella Mae Wood at the Scott Valley Church. They were blessed with four children, Teri, Julia, Tracy and Zenn David.

Tub was more than a farmer and a stockman, he loved almost all ag related activities and was involved in many facets throughout his life, beginning as a young man. He was active in 4-H as a boy, he enjoyed many successful years, showing the State Champion fat lamb in 1955. He was named the Kansas Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer in 1970. His experiences through the Jaycees led to making many friends and traveling to learn and share from farmers throughout the United States. Tub wanted his children to learn through 4-H when they were growing up and he served as a club leader for the Cherry Mound 4-H Club for many years. As David was participating in livestock shows in the early 1980's they graduated from local shows to state level and on to national shows, competing in many states from Colorado to Kentucky and from Texas to South Dakota. As the family grew to include grandkids Tub would make sure that the work did not keep Grandpa from making it to as many of their activities as he could. Even in his later years as he was confronted with health challenges, Tub never lost his passion to make it to watch his grandkids compete.

Tub served on many local, state and national boards over the years, some of them included, the Anderson County Fair Board, rural water and electric boards, and he was a charter member of the Westphalia Lions Club. He was an active member and board member of the Kansas Limousin Association, Heartland Limousin Association, National Limousin Association.

To someone who might see Tub and think of him as harsh or gruff, with more time you came to learn it was just his honest and direct means of communicating. He was a giant softie when his grandkids and other young kids were around. He loved being Papa Tub to his great grandchildren and sharing ice cream with them. A great day included chicken strips and a strawberry sundae from the Dairy Queen.

Tub was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 44 years, Lou on November 25, 2000; two brothers, Zenn Dale Ratliff and Max Ratliff; one sister, Joyce Ratliff.

He is survived by his three daughters, Teri Campbell and husband, Clay of Fort Scott, Julia Willard and husband, Lloyd of Westphalia and Tracy Brown and husband, David of Westphalia; son, David Ratliff and wife, Michelle of Westphalia; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren and 2 step great grandchildren; one brother, Bill Ratliff and wife, Barbara of Garnett, Kansas; one sister, Jeanie Thompson of McLouth, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, December 29, 2023 at the First Christian Church, Garnett. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday evening at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to the Anderson County Fair Association and left in care of the funeral home, PO Box 408, Garnett, KS 66032. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .
To watch Gail's Funeral Service click on the link https://vimeo.com/event/3988510