Myrtle Stone Cox Ratliff

Myrtle Cox Ratliff passed away peacefully at New Haven Senior living on June 12, 2022 at the age of 98. She was born in Madisonville, Texas on May 16, 1924. She was the daughter of Annie Stone and T.T. Stone. Myrtle grew up and lived in the High Prairie Community near Madisonville until her marriage to James Kermit Cox. Myrtle and Kermit lived in the Evans Chapel Community after their marriage and were active members of the community. They were married for forty nine years at the time of James Kermit’s death in 1996. In 2001, Myrtle reconnected with Bryon Ratliff from the High Prairie Community and they married in 2002. They made their home at Myrtle’s residence in the Evans Chapel Community until Bryon’s death in October 2016. After Bryon’s death, Myrtle moved to the Houston area to be closer to her daughter. She lived in The Heritage Assisted Living in Tomball for three years then moved to New Haven Senior Living in Spring, Texas in April 2019 where she passed.

Myrtle was a devoted wife and mother. She was a wife and homemaker while her children were young. After they were grown, she started to work for Miller Supply in Centerville and worked there for twenty years. She also continued to manage the ranch after James Kermit Cox’s death.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, James Kermit Cox and Bryon Ratliff; her brothers, E.E. Stone, J.H. Stone, Howard Stone, unnamed twin boys; and a half-brother Truman Stone. She is survived by a half-brother, James Stone; a daughter, Barbara Ward of Spring, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Karen Cox of Normangee, TX; grandchildren, David and Sabine Ward, James and Aleen Ward, Jason and Jamie Ward, Chad and Liz Cox and Jennifer Cox; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas on Friday, June 17th from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Funeral services are scheduled Saturday, June 18th at 10:30 A.M. at Evans Chapel Methodist Church on FM 977 West, Normangee, Texas. Interment will be in the Evans Chapel Cemetery.

Pallbearers: David Ward, James Ward, Jason Ward, Luke Ward, Chad Cox, Connor Cox

Honorary Pallbearers: Warner Stone, James Murphy, William (Buddy) Murphy, Mark Murphy, Royce Keeling, Ward Easterling

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Evans Chapel Cemetery Association, 8167 County Road 410, Normangee, Texas 77871.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas.