Cora Jewel Ratliff, 98, of Mt. Vernon died 9:15 pm Dec. 8. 1997, at her residence. She was a school teacher, farm wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma and friend.

Mrs. Ratliff was born Feb. 10, 1899, in Jefferson County, a daughter of Albert J. and Agnes (Vaughn) Carpenter.

July 20, 1920, in Mt. Vernon, she married Richard M. Ratliff, who preceded her in death on Sept. 3, 1974.

Services will be 1 pm Monday at the Osborn Funeral Home in Dix with Jonathan Schnautz and Arnold Peterson officiating. Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery. Friends may call after 5 pm Sunday at the Osborn Funeral Home in Dix.

Mrs. Ratliff is survived by one daughter, Evelyn Cassel of Mt. Vernon; three grandchildren, Vida Price and Husband Jack of Girard, Barbara Gillespie of Murphysboro and Bill Cassel and wife Gloria of Port St. John, Fla.; Six great-grandchildren, Michael Price, Brandy Price, Laura Gillespie, Leah Gillespie, Richard Cassel and Karen Cassel.

Mrs. Ratliff was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Roy Carpenter and Earl Carpenter; two sisters, Dorothy Williams and Ruth Johnson; and one infant son.

She was the oldest living member at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. She graduated from Forest Hill Grade School and Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale. She was a member of the Home Bureau for many years.

For those who wish memorials may be made to the Home Health of Good Samaritan Regional Health Center and will be received at the funeral home.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: December 10, 1997
Submitted by: Ken Richardson