Howe, Ozelle

Ozelle Howe

Services: Have been held.

Mrs. Ozelle Ratliff Howe, 90, a longtime resident of the Fort Sumner Valley, died Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

She was born on Aug. 27, 1913, at West in Quay County to Add C. and Grace Lawson West.

She married Arville Marshall “Mark” Ratliff on April 23, 1938, in Fort Sumner. She 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.

She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner.

She married Leo Howe of Duncan, Okla., in 1975.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; her parents; a son, Marshall “Sonny” Ratliff in 1989; and two brothers, Vane West and Woodrow West.

Survivors include: a daughter, Marqua Ratliff of Fort Sumner; a son, Mickey (and wife Nickie) Ratliff of Vienna, Va.; one granddaughter, Melanie Ratliff of Hale Center, Texas; a sister, Addie Whittington of Midland, Texas; four brothers, Sidney “Red” (Peg) West; Cecil West and Jake (Leona) West, all of Fort Sumner; and Denton (Nina) West of Burnsville, N.C.

The Rev. Monty Leavell will officiate the services.

Burial will follow in Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Ratliff as well as Bill, James, Allen, Brian and Glen West.

Honorary pallbearers are Neal Vaughan, Nita Overton and Lamar Luna.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, Box 180, Fort Sumner 88119 or to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner.