June 17, 2005 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 9, No. 48 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “Ruth Ratliff 1913-2005 Funeral services for Ruth Ratliff, 92, Ottawa, were Monday, June 13, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa, with Pastor Jerry Harnden officiating. Interment was in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Williamsburg. Mrs. Ratliff died Thursday, June 9, at Richmond Care Center in Richmond. Ruth Ratliff was born March 13, 1913, at LeLoup, KS, the daughter of Ralph J. and Bessie O. (McMillan) Turkle. She graduated from Ottawa High School with the Class of 1930. She then attended Ottawa University. Ruth lived in the Homewood Community for a short period of time, moving to Williamsburg in 1969, and to Ottawa in 1986. She was a homemaker. In her younger years, she worked as a court stenographer. Ruth was a former member of Richter United Methodist Church and later attended Williams United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Homewood Friendly Club. Ruth and William August Ratliff were married April 3, 1942, at Lawrence. He preceded her in death on February 6, 1984. Mrs. Ratliff was also preceded in death by her son, Bill Seyler; her granddaughters, Beverly Ratliff and Angela Bowlby; her grandson, Scott Albright; and her parents, Ralph and Bessie Turkle. Ruth is survived by her sons, James Ratliff of Garnett and Tom Ratliff of Lawrence; her daughters, Betty Bowlby of Richmond, Donna Albright and Mary Crable, both of Ottawa; 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association. Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. “Emma G. ‘Gwen’ McKaig 1915-2005 Graveside services of interment for Emma G. ‘Gwen’ McKaig, 89, Williamsburg, were Friday June 10, 2005, with Chaplain Chuck Murphy of Hospice Care of Kansas officiating. Mrs. McKaig died Tuesday, June 7, at Richmond Care Center. Emma G. McKaig was born October 18, 1915, at New Salem, IL, the daughter of Albert Eugene and Nellie Adele (Moore) Gerard. She attended schools in Illinois, where she lived until moving to Columbia, MO, Pressonville, KS, into Ottawa in approximately 1941, and to Williamsburg in approximately 1978. She worked approximately 17 years, from the time of the flood, at Irwin’s Gift Shop, and then at Norge Village for 14-15 years, both in Ottawa. Gwen and Alfred Allen McKaig were united in marriage on February 7, 1934, at Columbia, MO. He preceded her in death on August 4, 1972. Mrs. McKaig was also preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Nellie Gerard; her grandson, James L. ‘Jim’ Johnson; her great-great-granddaughter, Dalley Lynn Butterfield; her sisters, Louise Dunham, Mildred Lytle, and Alberta Hunt; and her brother, Walter F. Gerard. Gwen is survived by her daughter, Roberta Jean ‘Bertie’ Johnson of Williamsburg; her granddaughters, Debra Lynn Aubert and Pamela Jean Rapp; her grandsons, Roy Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson, Jr., Robert Allen Johnson, and John Lee Johnson; 12 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Mary Jackson Funeral services for Mary Jackson, 52, Garnett, are pending and will be announced later by Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel. Mrs. Jackson died early Wednesday morning, June 15, 2005, at Specialty Hospital, Mid-America Hospice, Overland Park.” “J. Roy Babcock, Jr. 1929-2005 Funeral services for J. Roy Babcock, 76, Colony, were Thursday, June 16, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel in Colony with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Interment was in Colony Cemetery. Mr. Babcock died Monday, June 13, at his home. J. Roy Babcock was born January 8, 1929, at Kansas City, KS, the son of Jay Roy Babcock, Sr. and Opal (Maupin) Babcock. He graduated from Argentine High School in Kansas City, KS, in 1948. He moved to Colony in 1966. He owned and operated Babcock Garage in Colony for 26 years. He was also involved in farming and raising cattle from 1966 until 2004. Roy was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Kansas City, KS, and later in Colony for 50 years. He was also a member of the Colony Lions Club. Roy and Frances Murphy were married April 18, 1964, at Kansas City, MO. Mr. Babcock was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers. Roy is survived by his wife, Frances, of the home; his son, Keith Babcock of Colony; his daughter, Carol Carver and her husband, Troy, of Canon City, CO; and his granddaughters, Jessica Babcock and Rebecca Carver. Music was provided by Kloma Buckle. Musical selections included “In The Garden” and “How Great Thou Art”. Casketbearers were Richard Buckle, Jeremy Bunnel, John Rook, Tim Sutton, Steve Weatherman, and Mark Wiley. Honorary casketbearers were Gene Anderson, Bob Barnett, Maynard Belvior, Weldon Goodell, Glen Hermreck, Rollin Strickler, Wallace Strickler, and Clair Wiley. The family suggests memorials to Colony First Responders or Colony Fire Department. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 3: “Vanessa Kay Weatherbee 1967-2005 Funeral services for Vanessa Kay Weatherbee, 37, Westphalia, were Thursday, June 9, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa, with Rev. Kenneth Davidson officiating. Interment was in Roselawn Cemetery, Ottawa. Mrs. Weatherbee died Sunday, June 5, at her home. Vanessa Kay Weatherbee was born November 22, 1967, at Ottawa, the daughter of Clinton Gary Everson and Rose (Holzapfel) Laster. She graduated from Ottawa High School with the Class of 1986. She has attended Allen County Community College for the last two years, majoring in business, and was pursuing her degree. She had lived in Westphalia for the past three years. Vanessa had previously lived in Colony for three years, Garnett for two years, Kansas City, KS, for four years, and also Ottawa. She was a homemaker. Vanessa was united in marriage to Ron Corbin in 1986. They later divorced. On June 25, 2001, Vanessa was united in marriage with John Weatherbee of Ottawa. Mrs. Weatherbee was preceded in death by her brother, Phillip Longfellow; and her stepfather, Dennis Longfellow. Vanessa is survived by her husband, John, of the home; her sons, Chase Corbin of Hazelwood, MO, Micaleb Weatherbee and Roscoe Weatherbee, both of the home; her stepdaughter, Brooklyn Nicole Williams of Princeton; her father, Clinton Gary Everson of Westphalia; her mother, Rose Laster of Ottawa; her sisters, Kathy Barber of Ottawa, Teri Mitchell of Welda, and Robin Everson; and her brothers, Steven Everson and Bill Longfellow, of Ottawa. The family suggests memorials to Vanessa Weatherbee’s Children’s Education Fund. Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.” “Herbert H. ‘Herb’ Hill 1909-2005 Graveside services and interment for Herbert H. ‘Herb’ Hill, 96, Ottawa, were Thursday, June 9, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, with Pastor Duane Pedrow officiating. Mr. Hill died Friday, June 3, at Village Manor Nursing Home in Ottawa. Herbert H. Hill was born March 5, 1909, at Wheeling, MO, the son of Theodore O. and Kathryn (Mettler) Hill. He had lived in Ottawa since 1974, moving from Wichita. Earlier, he had lived in California. From 1937 to retirement in 1974, he worked in the aircraft industry as a tubing specialist in aircraft assembly. For most of his career, Herb worked for Boering and Learjet in Wichita. He also worked for Lockeed and McDonald Douglas in California. He was the first Animal Control Officer for B. Martin Peck Animal shelter in Ottawa from 1946-1948. He served as a private in the United States Army from 1934-1937. Herb and Helen F. Davis were married November 23, 1939, at Hollywood, CA. Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Kathryn Hill; and his sisters, Jean Foti and Blanche Huddleston. Herb is survived by his wife, Helen, of Ottawa; his son and daughter-in-law, Cliff and Sally Hill of Webster, NY; two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and two nephews. Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon