Hermon E Ratliff

Hermon Elza Ratliff was born August 9, 1945, in Lake Wales, Florida to Leonard and Lucy (Meek) Ratliff. At 7 weeks old, he and his parents traveled from Florida to Fort Cobb, OK where he lived and loved life. Hermon passed from this life, May 13, 2025, in Fort Cobb.

Hermon was a proud Fort Cobb Longhorn, as he graduated from FC High School in 1963. He clocked in many hours on the basketball court and baseball field. Telling stories about his sports days were always entertaining, to say the least. He and his cousin Jerry were always wanting to start a pick-up game of any kind of sport with all the neighborhood kids. He served as president of the Alumni Association for a term and was also awarded the Fort Cobb Distinguished Alumni Award.

He married the love of his life, Lois, March 11, 1977, in Fort Cobb and had 2 children: Rebecca Nichole and James Leonard.

He always loved to tell stories about growing up in Fort Cobb and how many businesses there used to be. He could name every building and what used to be inside. He was proud to call Fort Cobb home. He also had a deep respect for the Native American culture and loved to listen to flute music.

Hermon had many jobs in his lifetime, but the grocery business was in his blood. He started at Ratliff Grocery & Market when he was 7 years old. His first job was counting eggs. He carried out groceries, swept and mopped floors, cut meat, did inventory, ordered groceries, stocked groceries, you name it, and he did it. When his dad, Leonard, decided to retire, Hermon & his uncle Floyd bought the store and ran it until 1984 when it was sold. Hermon tried his hand at a few different jobs but went back to work for Otis Martin and continued working there until he bought the grocery store back in November of 1996. He owned and operated Ratliff Grocery & Market, with his wife Lois, until his retirement in September 2011.

Hermon served as Rotary president twice and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Rotary International Award; served on Fort Cobb Town Council as a chairman and one term as mayor and was on the Fort Cobb Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years. He was a member of the Fort Cobb Methodist Church.

Hermon is preceded in death by his parents; son, Terry Michael Ratliff; brother, Edwin Leonard Ratliff; mother-in-law, Lucille Strickland, brother-in-law's Roy Strickland and Ray Strickland; sister-in-law's Genelle Taylor, Lucille Taylor, Lee Ella Adams and Treasa Downing.

He is survived by his wife Lois of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Becky & Traye Opitz of Fort Cobb; son and daughter-in-law, James & Mollie Ratliff of McAlester; grandchildren, Stephen & Madison Opitz of Fort Cobb; Adam Opitz & Kassidy Hughes of Weatherford; Britney & Daniel Dudley of OKC; Shelby Tillis of Anadarko; Jameson, Madison & "coming soon" - Mason Ratliff of McAlester; sister and brother-in-law, Louise & Gary Jarnagin of Fort Cobb; sister-in-law's, Verdia Strickland of Apache & Mildred Martin of Jay; aunt, Gladys Watkins of Hobart; and many other family and friends.

A graveside service will be Saturday, May 24 at 11am at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Fort Cobb with Rev. Keith King officiating; followed by a celebration of Hermon's life and fellowship with friends and family at the Fort Cobb Methodist Church. Please come casual.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Fort Cobb City Hall for the Oak Grove Cemetery Fund or the Fort Cobb Fire Department.

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK