Myrnah Marie (Grauerholz) Ratliff was born January 27, 1925 in Smith County, Kansas, the oldest daughter of Elizabeth "Lizzie" Grauerholz Goll. She passed away at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas on April 1, 2011 at the age of 86.

Myrnah grew up north of Kensington, Kansas on the farm owned by her grandparents, Henry & Anna Grauerholz. She attended schools in the Kensington area and graduated from Kensington High School.

On September 6, 1943, she was united in marriage to Eldon Ratliff. The couple was blessed with five children: Dalen, Alvin, Allan, Jerry and daughter, Sandy. Myrnah & Eldon started their married life farming, but moved into Kensington in 1967 when Eldon began doing carpentry work.

They were actively involved in their children's & grandchildren's school and sports events in Kensington. Myrnah was a loyal supporter of the High School FFA chapter and bought fresh fruit from them every year. The couple also accompanied several high school classes on Senior Sneak.

Myrnah worked in various jobs outside the home through the years, but she loved her role as wife, mother and homemaker the best. She loved to cook and looked forward to preparing her favorite holiday dinner every year at Thanksgiving.

As a girl, Myrnah was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Athol, Kansas at the time of her death. She & Eldon were active and faithful members of the church, volunteering and helping with many of the church's activities.

Eldon & Myrnah shared 65 wonderful years together before his death on December 6, 2008.

Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by her mother; her sister, Naomi Siebrass; one daughter-in-law, one grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Survivors include her four sons: Dalen & wife, Delores, of Kensington, KS; Alvin of Pocomoke City, MD; Allan & wife, Twila, of Tulsa, OK; and Jerry of DeSoto, KS; one daughter, Sandy Kuhlman & husband, Steve, of Athol, KS; her brothers, Burnell Goll & wife, Evelyn, of Glade, KS and Lawrence Goll & wife, Kay, of Blue Hill, NE; an aunt, Esther Norden, of Kensington, KS; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Myrnah will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 in the St. John Lutheran Church in Athol, KS with Pastor James Germer officiating. Burial will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery, Smith County, KS.

Myrnah will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, KS.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Smith County Hospital or Hospice Services.