Katharine Ratcliff

Katharine Marie (Bueker) Ratcliff, 88, of California, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Capital Region Hospital, Jefferson City. She was born, October 28, 1922, southwest of California, to John Erdman and Martha Johanna (Herfurth) Bueker, both of whom preceded her in death. She attended grade school at Oak Hill and Mason Schools and graduated from California High School in 1939. On April 28, 1946, she married Donald M. Ratcliff at the Methodist Church in California. He was killed in an automobile accident on October 13, 1974. She worked as secretary at the Moniteau County Extension Office and as the soil testing laboratory technician in the early 1940's. She retired January 3, 1984 from the Moniteau County ASCS office with 30+ years of service as a program assistant. She also worked as part-time secretary for the Soil Conservation Service. In 1970, Katharine was made a member of the Extension Leader's Honor Roll of the University of Missouri. She was a member of the United Church of Christ her entire life and through the years was a choir member, Sunday School teacher and officer, member of the Evangelism and Historical Committees, Evangeline class, Women's Guild member and officer and for five years or more weekly played the church service tapes for three to seven shut-ins. She belonged to California Chapter #521 OES, Twin City Garden Club, McGirk Friendly Neighbors, Inspiration Extension Club, California Federated Women's Club, West End Booster's Club, Moniteau County Historical Society, and Charter Member of California FFA Alumni Association. Katharine was a member of the 1937 Acapella Choir that went to the National Music Contest in Lawrence, Kansas. She was a 4-H booster and leader, helped in any way she could with FFA activities and volunteered at the California Nutrition Center as a hostess and made many articles for the craft shop. Special projects were making baby quilts for Festival of Sharing Baby Bundles; hospital gowns for Hospice of Jefferson City and Mid-Missouri; knit tiny baby caps for Kosair Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky; Neo-Natal Unit, University of Missouri; St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City and Capital Region Medical Center as well as winter caps for kid's coat, cap and glove closet for St. Mary's Health Center and California Middle School; made caps for children in Africa; recycled clothing for RACC in Jefferson City; made pillow cases for RACC, Hospice, and many lap robes. Survivors include two sons, Dale (Carol); and David (Sandra); grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Angela (David) Franks with Kirstyn, Kory, and Kade; Tammy (Craig) Allee with Christopher and Randy; Bryan (Robin) Ratcliff with Taylor, Kylee, Dylan, and Madison; Debra (Matthew) Maverick with Miranda and Brock; very dear friends, Chris (Sharon) Harper, of Nelson; two sisters-in-law, Maxine Bueker, California, and Marie Ratcliff of Halfway; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Walter Bueker. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 11, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at California United Church of Christ. Burial will be in Evangelical Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Chris Harper, assisted by Rev. Collette Jones. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services in California. Memorials can be made to: American Cancer Society, 2413 Hyde Park Road, Jefferson City, MO 65109; Missourians-Suzie Nichols, 3702 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65109; California UCC, 101 N. Oak St., California, MO 65018; or California Nutrition Center, 107 W. Versailles Ave., California, MO 65018. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California.