Betty Ratliff

Betty Lea Byrd Ratliff was born Aug. 23, 1928 to Lon and Sarah Cooper Byrd in Pineville, W.Va. She attended Pineville High School and Concord College. She received her master’s degree in music education from Marshall University. She taught music in the Pineville Public Schools in the early 1950’s before moving to Ironton in 1955. She began serving in the music ministry of Central Christian Church that year as well as teaching music in the Ironton Public School System. She served the church as choir director for almost 40 years, retiring in 1998. She arranged many Easter, Christmas and Fourth of July cantatas enjoyed by the church and community. She directed the Men’s Chorus for the church, which served the broader Tri-State through its travelling music ministry. She taught private piano lessons for 15 years. In 1959 she married Roy S. Ratliff, owner of Central Hardware, Ironton.

She is survived by her husband, two children, David and Rebecca and their spouses, Sara Ratliff and William Howell. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Nathaniel, John, and Christian Ratliff; Morgan, Lauren and Madeline Howell. Her devotion to her family and her service for her Lord will remain her lasting legacy. She will be greatly missed.

Memorial service will be 12:00 Saturday at Central Christian Church with Minister Glen Wheeler officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery and visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the memorial fund at Central Christian Church, 1541 S. Seventh St., Ironton, OH. Phillips Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Lonnie Reid

Lonnie Edward Reid, 83, of Flatwoods, Ky., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky., with his family at his side.

Lonnie was born in Hayden, Ala., on Dec. 12, 1928, to the late George W. and Louvenia Russell-Reid. He was a member of the Pentecostal Holiness Tabernacle in Flatwoods. Mr. Reid was retired from General Motors where he worked in the Hydromatic Transmission Division in Michigan for many years.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his son, Charles Edward Reid; three brothers; two sisters and one great grandson.

He leaves behind a devoted and loving family including his wife Gertrude Marie Brown-Reid of Flatwoods; one daughter Joan Reid-Kinsey and her husband Bobby of Chattanooga, Tenn.; five stepdaughters Karen McIntyre and John of Ashland, Ky., Donna Hignite and Jim Shannon of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Ruby Blevins of Wheelersburg, Anna Russell and George of Wurtland, Ky., and Vicky Groves and Jim of Flatwoods; one stepson Clyde Brown and Lana of Lexington as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren all of whom will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held at Pentecostal Holiness Tabernacle in Flatwoods on Saturday at 1 p.m. with words of comfort and reassurance delivered by Pastors Ronald Blevins and Lloyd Bailey. Burial will follow at White Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 6-9 p.m. at Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.carmanfuneral.

 

Mark Pruitt

Mark Allen Pruitt, 28 of Ironton died on Wednesday April 11,2012 at University of Kentucky Medical Center. He was born Aug. 29, 1983 the son of Harold and Charlotte Sisler Pruitt. He was a 2002 graduate of Rock Hill and Green High School. He was preceded in death by one infant sister.

He is survived by his parents and two sisters and brothers in law Missy (Joe) Kidd of Ironton; Jeannie (Tim) Murphy of Ironton; one brother Harold “Bill” Pruitt of Ironton; three nieces, Sarah Murphy, Emily Murphy and Madison Kidd; and one nephew Joey Kidd. Funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Cremeans officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral. Burial will be in Hanging Rock Cemetery.

 

Rodney Straight

Rodney Straight, 65 of South Point, died on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He was born Nov. 18, 1946, in Lawrence County, to the late Jason J. and Opal B. Parsons Straight. He worked as a hairdresser for Regis Hair Salon in Ashland Ky.

He was a graduate of the Tucson Ariz., School for the Deaf and Blind. He was a student at Rio Grande College and Ohio University. He is survived by one brother, Roger K. Straight and Dorothy of Wurtland Ky.; and nephews and nieces including Roger K. Straight Jr., Charlene D.(Craig) Twiss, Mary Linn Straight, Ryan Straight, Benjamin Twiss and Nicholas Twiss. Funeral will be today at 12 p.m. at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home with Carl Graham officiating. Visitation will be today from 9:30 a.m. until time of the funeral. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.

 

Helen Turley

Helen Louise Turley, 80, of Crown City, died Thursday, April 12, 2012, at home. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.