Pearl Ratzlaff
Matriarch of the family, big personality in a little package, devoted wife, cute, sweet, funny, our momma. Our sweet momma, Pearl Ratzlaff, also beloved wife and grandmother, peacefully left this physical world early on Saturday, July 4, 2020 in Austin. She passed away with dignity and grace, and surrounded by her husband and kids.
Pearl was born on July 9, 1936 in Clinton, Oklahoma to Frieda and Leo Elzner. She married Roy Ratzlaff on August 21, 1955 at the Arapaho Methodist Church in Oklahoma. They were married for 64 golden years. To celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, Pearl and Roy renewed their vows and love before Reverend Paulette Williams Magnuson of the Episcopal Diocese, and rejoiced with their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends in Austin on August 22, 2015.
Before moving to Austin in 1994, Pearl and Roy lived in Lamesa for 30 years. Pearl worked as a cashier at Walmart in Lamesa from 1986 to 1994, then in Austin from 1994 to 2009. Even though she was not the official Walmart greeter, she welcomed everyone and was adored by her customers. Pearl was awarded Cashier of the Month in 1995.
Pearl enjoyed plants and flowers, and tended to each petal and leaf by carefully cataloging the watering, feeding, and growth in her concise, clear handwriting in accounting ledgers. She was an enthusiastic reader of books and kept extensive records of each book and author. Pearl and Roy frequented book stores searching for old and new reads for their personal library. Pearl also took pleasure in garage sales and watching soap operas, and was an avid lover of movies, theater, live music, and spending time with her family. Pearl’s care for plants, passion for reading, and appreciation of the theatrical and musical arts was instilled in her 4 children and shared with her husband.
While living in Lamesa, Pearl (the drummer) and Roy (guitar player) were members of the music group The Artistics, and entertained local and surrounding audiences at new car shows, the senior citizens center, and the veterans’ hospital. Pearl and Roy were renowned as a beautiful, cute couple in Lamesa and in Austin.
Those who knew Pearl remember her for her loyalty and love to her family, her green thumb, her thoughtfulness of others, her wit, and her silliness. Our dad always said that there was someone out there who thought our mother was cute and wanted to adopt her. Everyone always knew that she put her kids and husband first, she was always there for us, usually ignoring her own needs to take care of us. Everyone that met her immediately loved her and thought she was so cute because she was tiny and sassy. She left a lasting impression and people never forgot her.
Pearl is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Roy. You never saw momma or daddy without the other. She was immensely proud of her children Beverly and George, Curtis and Hannah, Rhonda and Kevin, and Jennifer and Gary. She was entertained by her grandchildren Lila, April, Josh, Roy, Alexandria, Richard, Felicia, Cody, Leslie, Courtney, Greg; and great grandchildren Aiden, Alyssa, Avery, Ella, Mary Louise, Harper, Holland, Emalee, Michael, Kyler, and Kollyns. She loved spending time with her kitty, Cleo.
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, grandsons Erik and David, and great grandson Austin Cade.
A celebration of life is tentatively scheduled on Pearl and Roy’s 65th wedding anniversary on August 21. The family is very thankful to Hospice Austin for the incredible care they gave momma and support for us, so donations in our sweet momma’s memory can be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78759. Donations may also be made to the Dawson County Public Library, P.O. Box 1264, Lamesa, Texas 79331.
– Press-Reporter obituary services