BORGER — Donna Jean Ratliff, born April 2, 1940, passed from this world on Jan. 26, 2007, after a valiant battle with cancer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sig and Everal Fauske, her brother, Larry Fauske and a daughter, Kimberly Eileen Ratliff.

She is survived by her loving husband of almost 50 years, Perry Edwin Ratliff; and her children, Dan Ratliff of Borger, Texas, Cathy Wills and husband, Larry, of Wendell, N.C., Tamra Bush and husband, Jim, of Raleigh, N.C., and Tim Ratliff and wife Marilyn of Milton Iowa. She is also survived by her sisters, Lois Whisennand and husband Richard of Austin, Texas, and Janice Sall of Chico, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Heather Maroney, Jennifer Geisendaffer, Lance Wills, Chelsea Wills, Bailey Bush, Kendall Bush and Kari Naill; five great-grandchildren, Kevin Maroney, Brodie Maroney, Alex Whitman, Madilyn Whitman and Jackson Geisendaffer; mother-in-law Audrey Darnell and husband Charles; and a myriad of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.

She leaves a void for her co-workers and students in the special education department of Plainview High School where she taught for eight years. She loved teaching art and Spanish in the area for 17 years.

Donna Ratliff was a wife and mother who taught her children to love, live and enjoy life and the arts. She was a teacher who had a tremendous talent for working with children and young adults, always exhibiting unlimited patience and compassion and always striving to improve the quality of life for those she worked with. She was also a talented artist and a trustworthy and loyal friend.

Whenever someone you love becomes a memory — the memory becomes a treasure. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Casketbearers will be Dan Ratliff, Tim Ratliff, Larry Wills, Lance Wills, Jim Bush and Chris Logan.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Minton Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Terry Stegall of Grace Fellowship Church officiating.

Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors.

Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Plainview Daily Herald — Jan. 29, 2007