Born in Willow, Ark., to Gus and Ethel Ratcliff, he was the oldest of 10 children.
A child of the Depression, he learned his life work as a welder through the Civilian Conservation Corp. While working in the shipyards in Mobile, Ala., he met and married the love of his life Edna Pearl McDonald. He joined the Navy in March of 1945 and served with the Seabees until April 1946. Cliff saw the Pacific through a porthole and never liked to go out in the Gulf because of his "experiences" during the war.
After a time of farming in the Repton, Ala., area, he took up his welding trade again, which brought him to Eglin. He spent years at Eglin working for Boeing and Civil Service. He was a master welder. In 1952, the family moved to Destin, Fla., where he owned the Destin Courts (Guglielmo's) and bought the Flamingo Motel in 1960.
He and Edna raised two children and he resided in Destin until his death. His passion was helping his friends and family with anything from welding boat trailers to fixing plumbing and electrical problems. He was an inventor of many things that are still used by his family. He was always concerned with using what you had (that Depression era mentality again) and making it work. He had a work ethic that is seldom seen today.
Cliff's parents, wife, Edna, brothers, Earnest and Bob, have already welcomed him into the presence of the Lord. What a reunion we will have.
Cliff is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Ratcliff and wife Becky of Destin; and a daughter, Ann Shirah and husband Bill of Destin; grand children, Dr. Mandy Jackson and husband Dr. Brad Jackson of Birmingham, Ala., Rob Ratcliff and wife Dr. Misha Ratcliff of Destin, Dr. Jeff Shirah of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Kathleen Shirah of Fort Walton Beach. Also surviving are great-grand children, Virginia, Elizabeth and Fowler Jackson, and Robert Mitchell Ratcliff. Cliff's surviving siblings are brothers, Vernard and Dewey Ratcliff; and sisters, Verda Green, Ann Schisler, Jean Brooks, Joy Jones and Gussie Wylie.
Special thanks go to the staff at The Manor at Bluewater Bay for their loving kindness and Covenant Hospice for being there for the journey's end. We are so grateful for the first responders of the Destin Fire Department for their help and care. We are so blessed.
Most of all we thank our Lord Jesus for sending the angels to bring Cliff to his home eternal.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Destin on Friday, April 25. A visitation will start at 2 p.m. and services will be at 3 p.m. A fellowship will follow immediately after the service in the fellowship hall. Graveside services for the family will follow after the fellowship.
Flowers are accepted, or donations to First Baptist Church, Children's Recreation Park, 201 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541, will be lovingly appreciated.
Davis-Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2008
A child of the Depression, he learned his life work as a welder through the Civilian Conservation Corp. While working in the shipyards in Mobile, Ala., he met and married the love of his life Edna Pearl McDonald. He joined the Navy in March of 1945 and served with the Seabees until April 1946. Cliff saw the Pacific through a porthole and never liked to go out in the Gulf because of his "experiences" during the war.
After a time of farming in the Repton, Ala., area, he took up his welding trade again, which brought him to Eglin. He spent years at Eglin working for Boeing and Civil Service. He was a master welder. In 1952, the family moved to Destin, Fla., where he owned the Destin Courts (Guglielmo's) and bought the Flamingo Motel in 1960.
He and Edna raised two children and he resided in Destin until his death. His passion was helping his friends and family with anything from welding boat trailers to fixing plumbing and electrical problems. He was an inventor of many things that are still used by his family. He was always concerned with using what you had (that Depression era mentality again) and making it work. He had a work ethic that is seldom seen today.
Cliff's parents, wife, Edna, brothers, Earnest and Bob, have already welcomed him into the presence of the Lord. What a reunion we will have.
Cliff is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Ratcliff and wife Becky of Destin; and a daughter, Ann Shirah and husband Bill of Destin; grand children, Dr. Mandy Jackson and husband Dr. Brad Jackson of Birmingham, Ala., Rob Ratcliff and wife Dr. Misha Ratcliff of Destin, Dr. Jeff Shirah of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Kathleen Shirah of Fort Walton Beach. Also surviving are great-grand children, Virginia, Elizabeth and Fowler Jackson, and Robert Mitchell Ratcliff. Cliff's surviving siblings are brothers, Vernard and Dewey Ratcliff; and sisters, Verda Green, Ann Schisler, Jean Brooks, Joy Jones and Gussie Wylie.
Special thanks go to the staff at The Manor at Bluewater Bay for their loving kindness and Covenant Hospice for being there for the journey's end. We are so grateful for the first responders of the Destin Fire Department for their help and care. We are so blessed.
Most of all we thank our Lord Jesus for sending the angels to bring Cliff to his home eternal.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Destin on Friday, April 25. A visitation will start at 2 p.m. and services will be at 3 p.m. A fellowship will follow immediately after the service in the fellowship hall. Graveside services for the family will follow after the fellowship.
Flowers are accepted, or donations to First Baptist Church, Children's Recreation Park, 201 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541, will be lovingly appreciated.
Davis-Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2008
Born in Willow, Ark., to Gus and Ethel Ratcliff, he was the oldest of 10 children.
A child of the Depression, he learned his life work as a welder through the Civilian Conservation Corp. While working in the shipyards in Mobile, Ala., he met and married the love of his life Edna Pearl McDonald. He joined the Navy in March of 1945 and served with the Seabees until April 1946. Cliff saw the Pacific through a porthole and never liked to go out in the Gulf because of his "experiences" during the war.
After a time of farming in the Repton, Ala., area, he took up his welding trade again, which brought him to Eglin. He spent years at Eglin working for Boeing and Civil Service. He was a master welder. In 1952, the family moved to Destin, Fla., where he owned the Destin Courts (Guglielmo's) and bought the Flamingo Motel in 1960.
He and Edna raised two children and he resided in Destin until his death. His passion was helping his friends and family with anything from welding boat trailers to fixing plumbing and electrical problems. He was an inventor of many things that are still used by his family. He was always concerned with using what you had (that Depression era mentality again) and making it work. He had a work ethic that is seldom seen today.
Cliff's parents, wife, Edna, brothers, Earnest and Bob, have already welcomed him into the presence of the Lord. What a reunion we will have.
Cliff is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Ratcliff and wife Becky of Destin; and a daughter, Ann Shirah and husband Bill of Destin; grand children, Dr. Mandy Jackson and husband Dr. Brad Jackson of Birmingham, Ala., Rob Ratcliff and wife Dr. Misha Ratcliff of Destin, Dr. Jeff Shirah of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Kathleen Shirah of Fort Walton Beach. Also surviving are great-grand children, Virginia, Elizabeth and Fowler Jackson, and Robert Mitchell Ratcliff. Cliff's surviving siblings are brothers, Vernard and Dewey Ratcliff; and sisters, Verda Green, Ann Schisler, Jean Brooks, Joy Jones and Gussie Wylie.
Special thanks go to the staff at The Manor at Bluewater Bay for their loving kindness and Covenant Hospice for being there for the journey's end. We are so grateful for the first responders of the Destin Fire Department for their help and care. We are so blessed.
Most of all we thank our Lord Jesus for sending the angels to bring Cliff to his home eternal.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Destin on Friday, April 25. A visitation will start at 2 p.m. and services will be at 3 p.m. A fellowship will follow immediately after the service in the fellowship hall. Graveside services for the family will follow after the fellowship.
Flowers are accepted, or donations to First Baptist Church, Children's Recreation Park, 201 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541, will be lovingly appreciated.
Davis-Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2008
A child of the Depression, he learned his life work as a welder through the Civilian Conservation Corp. While working in the shipyards in Mobile, Ala., he met and married the love of his life Edna Pearl McDonald. He joined the Navy in March of 1945 and served with the Seabees until April 1946. Cliff saw the Pacific through a porthole and never liked to go out in the Gulf because of his "experiences" during the war.
After a time of farming in the Repton, Ala., area, he took up his welding trade again, which brought him to Eglin. He spent years at Eglin working for Boeing and Civil Service. He was a master welder. In 1952, the family moved to Destin, Fla., where he owned the Destin Courts (Guglielmo's) and bought the Flamingo Motel in 1960.
He and Edna raised two children and he resided in Destin until his death. His passion was helping his friends and family with anything from welding boat trailers to fixing plumbing and electrical problems. He was an inventor of many things that are still used by his family. He was always concerned with using what you had (that Depression era mentality again) and making it work. He had a work ethic that is seldom seen today.
Cliff's parents, wife, Edna, brothers, Earnest and Bob, have already welcomed him into the presence of the Lord. What a reunion we will have.
Cliff is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Ratcliff and wife Becky of Destin; and a daughter, Ann Shirah and husband Bill of Destin; grand children, Dr. Mandy Jackson and husband Dr. Brad Jackson of Birmingham, Ala., Rob Ratcliff and wife Dr. Misha Ratcliff of Destin, Dr. Jeff Shirah of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Kathleen Shirah of Fort Walton Beach. Also surviving are great-grand children, Virginia, Elizabeth and Fowler Jackson, and Robert Mitchell Ratcliff. Cliff's surviving siblings are brothers, Vernard and Dewey Ratcliff; and sisters, Verda Green, Ann Schisler, Jean Brooks, Joy Jones and Gussie Wylie.
Special thanks go to the staff at The Manor at Bluewater Bay for their loving kindness and Covenant Hospice for being there for the journey's end. We are so grateful for the first responders of the Destin Fire Department for their help and care. We are so blessed.
Most of all we thank our Lord Jesus for sending the angels to bring Cliff to his home eternal.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Destin on Friday, April 25. A visitation will start at 2 p.m. and services will be at 3 p.m. A fellowship will follow immediately after the service in the fellowship hall. Graveside services for the family will follow after the fellowship.
Flowers are accepted, or donations to First Baptist Church, Children's Recreation Park, 201 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541, will be lovingly appreciated.
Davis-Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2008
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