Elmer J. "Jack" Ratcliff

Jack Ratcliff, 91, passed away August 1, 2017, at the Holiday     Resort Nursing Home in Emporia, Ks. He lived a long, fulfilling life and will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him.Jack was born to Douglas and Mary Ratcliff on December 27, 1925, one of seven children. His father came from New York on an orphan train in 1905 when he was six years old. After he was   adopted by an Emporia couple, he broke his leg and was sent back to the orphanage in New York. When it healed two years later, Douglas made the trek again and was adopted by Jack’s grandparents, Elmer and Annie Ratcliff, eventually settling on the farm north of Hamilton, where Jack lived for most of his life.Jack met the love of his life, Maxine Kirby, when he was a football player for Hamilton and she was a cheerleader for Madison. They were engaged when he was drafted into the Army in 1945. He was trained at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and sent to Korea as a medic, driving an ambulance. He was honorably discharged from the Army in September of 1947. They had one daughter, Jeanette, in 1951. Maxine passed away January 24, 2015, two weeks short of their 69th wedding anniversary.Jack was a hard worker and often had more than one job. He worked in the oil field, drove a semi, hauling cattle throughout    Kansas and Missouri, and drove a propane truck for Williams Oil in Hamilton for 50 years, most of this time keeping the family farm  running as well. Jack and Maxine belonged to the Methodist Church in Hamilton and were very active socially, attending dances and other activities with their friends. They had a hand in raising a lot of kids through the farm, including Jeanette, her kids-Travis, Troy and Stacey, and all their friends. They always had a house full of people and were very involved in their daughter and grandchildren’s lives. He adored all the babies and children and lit up with happiness when they were around, even after his health required him to move into a nursing home.Jack is survived by his daughter Jeanette Pharm of Las Vegas, Nv, two brothers, Wes Ratcliff of Iowa and Gary Ratcliff of Lebo, Ks, one sister Donna Brevoort of Pennsylvania, grandsons Travis Ratcliff of Madison, Ks, Troy Ratcliff of West Hollywood, California and Adam Ray of Emporia, Ks; ten great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.He is predeceased by his wife Maxine, brothers Morris Ratcliff and Wayne Ratcliff, a sister Betty Lewis and a granddaughter, Stacey Ratcliff.