Elizabeth Ratcliff of Lewisburg, WV, passed away Monday, June 19, 2017.
Elizabeth was born in Grassy Meadows, WV, on February 27, 1933, the first daughter of James Thomas Montgomery (deceased) and Ela Stevens Montgomery (deceased).
She spent her early years on the farm at Grassy Meadows with her siblings, James Montgomery of St. Albans, WV, Dorothy Thomas (deceased), and Robert Montgomery of Grassy Meadows.
She graduated from Smoot High School in Smoot, WV, in 1950. She worked for a couple of years in Lewisburg while dating Charles Virgil Hicks (deceased) of Green Sulphur Springs, WV. In November of 1951, she married Virgil. They started a family which grew to include five children, Gary Hicks and wife, Betty, of Dyke, VA, Phillip Hicks of Raleigh, NC, Jane Hicks of Morgantown, WV, Ann Smith and husband, Brian, of Lewisburg, and Charles Hicks and wife, Grace, of Roanoke, VA. The family has since grown to include seven grandchildren, Travis Hicks and wife, Vanh, Jason Hicks and wife, Jenn, Stacy Tenkovskiy, Heather Miller and husband, Michael, Elena Coole, Jessie Bailey and husband, Adam, and Emma Coole; as well as seven living great-grandchildren.
Following Virgil’s death of cancer in 1989, Elizabeth moved to Christiansburg, VA, where she resided for the next 25 years. She met James Ratcliff of Newton Falls, OH, and they were married on June 2, 2002. They were very happy together, and her children felt blessed that he was part of her life and theirs. With her marriage to Jim, she gained three more daughters, Monica Tomo and husband, Dan, of Columbus, IN, Teresa Spurlock and husband, Steve, of Newton Falls, and Jamie Nelson and husband, Dave, of Norton, OH.
Elizabeth loved a good puzzle and would stay up for hours to finish one. She liked to play games and always won at Rummikub and canasta, to the chagrin of her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful seamstress and liked to quilt and cross-stitch.
She enjoyed gardening and a pretty flowerbed.
She was a soft-spoken, lovely woman who was much loved and will be deeply missed. She was faithful to God and is in his hands. A beautiful soul has joined the heavens.
Visitation is planned at McCraw Funeral Home, 150 Courtney Drive, Lewisburg, from 1-3 PM on Saturday, June 24, 2017.
A graveside service is planned at the Lewis Cemetery in Grassy Meadows at 4 PM on Saturday with Pastor Randy Gilliam officiating.
Visitors are welcome to return to Ann Smith’s home a 212 Woodland Drive, Lewisburg after the service for an additional celebration of Elizabeth’s life.
McCraw Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the June 21, 2017, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
