Effie Irene Ratliff

Effie Irene (Ellie) Ratliff, 97, began her heavenly journey on June 9, 2016.  She passed away from complications of congestive heart failure in The Chattanooga Hospice Center.  She was born in West Virginia on March 26, 1919.

Miss Ellie loved to sew, making everything from clothing for her family to upholstering furniture.  In recent years she and her daughter, Billie, had taken up a cause of making “Blessing Blankets” for Disabled Veterans for which they recently won the “Pay It Forward” award from News Channel 9 in Chattanooga, which aired Monday evening June 6th.  Although she never viewed the program she did know that she had won and was very surprised and humbled, feeling that she had done nothing to deserve it. She was a member of Zion Assembly Church of God in Cleveland and also made quilts for sale during the March for Mission Campaigns in March and October at the church.  She had a witty sense of humor that within five minutes of meeting her she would have you laughing.  She was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Miss Ellie was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William Ratliff, her parents, five sisters, son-in-law, Scott Smith and grandson, Montie Todd Smith

She is survived by her six children, Monty Richard (Sue), Lisha Nasipack (Jack) , of Elyria, OH, Fredrick “Rick” Paul (Pat) of Parma, OH, Billie Irene Smith, Debbie Anderson (John) and Lelanni Anne Godsey (Jim), all of Cleveland; seven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Louise Pujalte (Tony) of Murica, Spain and special nephew Wade H. Phillips of Cleveland.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016 at the Zion Assembly Church of God across from the flea market on Waterlevel Hwy.

The family asks that donations be made in her name to the missions department of Zion Assembly Church of God.

We invite you to visit www.grissomserenity.com to view the obituary and leave a message of condolence.

 Funeral arrangements are being handled by Grissom-Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Services.