Duward Ratliff

Durward Ratliff, 93, of Baytown, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2009 in Baytown. He was born December 31, 1915 in Kurten, Texas to his late parents, George Howell and Anna Ratliff.

Mr. Ratliff was a veteran, having served in the Army Air Corp, and was a graduate of Sam Houston State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950 and a Masters of Education Degree in 1954.

He taught school in Yoakum, Richards and Burleson before moving to Baytown in 1956. In Baytown Mr. Ratliff taught at Robert E. Lee until he retired in 1978. As long as his health permitted he never missed a Lee football game.

Durward was a 54 year resident of Baytown and a longtime member of the Baptist Temple where he was a deacon.

Preceding him in death was his wife of 64 years, Maxine, his parents, a brother, George Hammond and a sister Norma Cooper.

Survivors include a son, Darrell Ratliff of Baytown; daughter and son-in-law, Scotty and Boyd Fuqua of Beach City; grandsons, Jason Fuqua and wife Anna of Deer Park and Chad Fuqua of Houston; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Alexander Fuqua of Deer Park; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gail and Jene Jackson of Houston; nephew, Tom Hammond of Laguna Niguel, California; a niece and two nephews of Houston.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Navarre Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Looney officiating. There will be a private burial at Cedar Crest Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2009 at the funeral home.

The Ratliff family would like to thank Remington Park for their care.

To view his online obituary, or post a tribute to his family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521, (281) 422-8111.