Sue Ratzlaff

Sue Carol Ratzlaff, age 76, of Lamar, passed away Monday, May 29, 2017 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.      Sue was born March 30, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, the second of the four daughters of the late Gordon and Edna (Martin) Boyer.  Moving to Lamar with her family in 1943, she graduated from Lamar High School in 1959.  On February 12, 1962, in Miami, Oklahoma, Sue married her high school sweetheart, Gary Ratzlaff. In 1963, she completed nurses training in Denver, Colorado and began a 35-year career as a registered nurse. Sue first worked at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas and Stormont Vail in Topeka, Kansas while Gary was earning a law degree.  After moving back to Lamar, she was Dr. Bickel’s nurse at the Lamar Clinic for many years before concluding her career back at Mt. Carmel Hospital.      In addition to being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Sue was an avid reader, enjoyed playing bridge, and looked forward to the fellowship of family and friends.  The St. Louis Cardinals were her favorite summer pastime; come fall, it was all about MU and Lamar Tigers football.  Sue was a member of Lamar United Methodist Church.      Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Gary; a daughter, Sherri Monday, Greenwood, Missouri; a son, Michael Ratzlaff, Seattle, Washington; two grandsons, Nathan Pickering, Stillwater, Oklahoma and Hunter Pickering, Greenwood, Missouri; three sisters, Ann Byrom, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kay Harlin, Joplin, Missouri, and Julie Boyer, Atlanta, Georgia; a sister-in-law, Marsha Harkrader, Appleton City, Missouri; two nephews and four nieces.      Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 1st, at Daniel Funeral Home with Dr. Mark Turnbough officiating.  Burial will follow in Lake Cemetery.      Memorial contributions are suggested to Barton County Humane Society in care of the funeral home.