George Edward Ratcliff

A funeral service for George E. Ratcliff will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday January 28, 2014 at the Family Life Church with Pastor Marty Crump officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery with Military Honors provided by American Legion Post #42 Honor Guard. A visitation will be held from 9:30 11:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service.George Edward Ratcliff passed away on January 24, 2014 at Pioneer Manor with his family by his side. He was born on April 5, 1932 at his aunt's house, in Hayden, Colorado to Lee and Ione (Smith) Ratcliff. George was raised in and around Hayden, Colorado. In 1952 he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Rylie Kansas. This is where George met the love of his life Berdine Hayes. They were married February 20, 1953. He received an honorable discharge in 1954. After his discharge he began working in the oilfield in Craig, Colorado. George and his family lived in various places around Wyoming until they settled in Gillette in 1961. He worked many positions in the oilfield until his final position as Operations Manager in 1996 when he retired. George could not stay out of the business long and in 1997 became a huge part and great mentor in the Methane boom; while working as a consultant for Western Gas (Anadarko) until he retired in 2006. When George was not working he spent his time golfing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and most important spending time with his family. A devoted husband and father, family was very important to George. He is survived by wife Berdine; four children Bonnie (Lonny) Bartlett, Douglas (Nancy) Ratcliff, Michael (Judy) Ratcliff, and Susan (Denny) Harrison all of Gillette; sister Vivian Bronson and niece Barbara Dowl of Libby, Montana; brother-in-law Donald (Ramona) Hayes of Wichita, Kansas; niece Debra Hayes, nephew Edward (Peggy) Hayes; eight grandchildren Rebecka (Shannon) Coughlin, Bradley (Erica) Bartlett, Dustin(Kim) Harrison, Adam(Amber) Ratcliff, Laura(Brandon) Jacobs, Kyle Ratcliff, Kayla (Eric) Vos, and Jill (Zach) Ratcliff; and ten great-grandchildren. In his later years, George could always be found with one of his great-grandchildren on his lap feeding them jelly beans or popcorn; they were the joy of his life. George was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers John and Lee Ratcliff; and a sister Anne Ratcliff. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to the Shriners or Wounded Warriors. Memorials and Condolences may be sent in George's name in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may also be sent via our website www.walkerfuneralgillette.comFuneral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716