RONALD PAUL GERVAIS

Ronald Paul Gervais, 59, of Kirbyville passed away Monday, August 16, 2010 at St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur.

Funeral services were held Thursday, August 19 at Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville with cremation to follow.

A native of Gulfport, Mississippi, he had lived in Kirbyville three years and was a former resident of Bridge City/Orange for 13 years.  He was an auto repair manager/adjuster.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Gervais of Kirbyville; daughter, Katie Landrum and husband John of Nederland; stepdaughter, Shanna Lloyd and husband Tom of Kirbyville; stepson, Kyle Harrison of Mauriceville; parents, Gene and Ida Gervais of Chunchula, Alabama; brother, David Gervais of Citronelle, Alabama; sisters, Cherie Humphrey of Van Wert, Ohio and Cathy Suarez of Hattisburg, Mississippi; and three grandchildren, Kora Landrum, Tyler Lloyd and Kamryn Lloyd.

FRANK L. RATCLIFF

“BUD”

Frank L. “Bud” Ratcliff, 92, of Kirbyville passed away Thursday, August 19, 2010 at in his home surrounded by loved ones and his Hospice nurse, Sandy.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 21 at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, Florida with burial at Grover Cleveland Williams Family Plot in the old Mt. Pleasant Cemetery under the direction of Charles McClellan Funeral home in Quincy, Florida. He was transported to Florida by Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville.

Frank was born in Columbia, Louisiana on December 5, 1917. He had been ill for several months and succumbed to his death from the dreaded disease of pancreatic cancer. Frank fought a good fight and with the help of his sister, brother-in-law, brother and his home nurse and caregiver, Mrs. Janet Brally, he survived several strokes and was able to live at home throughout his entire illness.

Frank retired from the United Stated Army after 30 years of service. He fought in World War II and the Korean War. He was a Master Sergeant in the Infantry and maintained that rank in his everyday life and in his dealings with people around him. He lived a structured life and was in complete control of everything he had anything to do with. He was well thought of and loved by many.

Frank retired from the Army in 1967 and he and his wife, Sadie, moved to her old family home in Mt. Pleasant, Florida where they stayed until the year 2000 when she passed away. He then moved to a new home in Tallahassee, Florida where he stayed until he moved to Kirbyville in 2004 to live near his sister, Doris Osburn. He stayed at this home until his death.

He enjoyed living close to his family and he enjoyed having his two good dogs. He called them his babies.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Sadie Williams Ratcliff and their infant daughter, Karen Angela; parents, William Henry Ratcliff and Annie Azalie Turner Ratcliff Steele; stepfather, Joe H. Steele; sister, Allene Pickett and husband Buddy Pickett of Orange; brothers, Jay L. Ratcliff and wife Mabel of Monterey, Louisiana, Carlos G. Ratcliff and wife Wanda of Cameron, Louisiana, Joe D. Steele and Jack F. Steele of Orange; and sister-in-law, Effie Ratcliff of LaCassina, Louisiana.

Survivors include his brother, Henry “Hank” Ratcliff; sister, Doris Osburn and husband Frank; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

BEATRICE FARR-FOWLER

Beatrice Farr-Fowler, 93, passed away Saturday, August 21, 2010 in Vallejo, California.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 27 at Old Path COGIC in Vallejo, California.

Born September 7, 1916 in Huff Creek, Jasper County, she was the eldest daughter of Lena Farr. At an early age she accepted the Lord as her Savior and lived a saved and sanctified life.

 She married Elder Nathan Farr in 1929 and to this union eight children were born. Together they pastored Magnolia Springs COGIC and eventually settled at Old Field COGIC in the community of Biloxi.  There, Mother Fowler served as a missionary, attended YPWW and was a member of Eastern Star. After Elder Farr’s death in 1956, she met and married Ben Fowler, known to the family as “Daddy Ben” who passed away in 1964.

Mother Fowler continued to remain active in the church and after 59 years of service, she relocated to Vallejo, CA and transferred her membership to Old Path Miracle Cathedral COGIC.

Mother Fowler worked in various occupations. Some of her most favorite things were cooking with her grandchildren, attending church, quilting and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her children; Dan and Lela; and her grandchildren, Kathy and Patrick.

She is survived by her children, Jewel, Charlene, Beatrice Ann and Claritha of Vallejo, California, Gloria of Damon, Nathan, Jr. of Houston and daughter-in-law Rita of San Francisco, California; her brothers, Noah and Harvey, both of Madera, California; sisters, Loma of Daly City, California, Roxie of Phoenix, Arizona and Clara of San Francisco; 24 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and life-long friends.

Flowers should be sent to Skyview Lawn in Vallejo, California or memorial contributions can be sent to Nathan Farr Ministries, P.O. Box 173, Bon Wier, Texas 75982.

MINNIE LAVINE MOODY

Minnie Lavine Moody, 82, of Kirbyville passed away Sunday, August 22, 2010 at Avalon Place Nursing Home in Kirbyville.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, August 25 at Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville with burial at Kirbyville Cemetery.

Born in Browndell, she had lived most of her life in Kirbyville.