SOUTH BEND, IN - Menifee Lee Ratliff, “Ernie”, 72, took his last fishing trip on December 13, 2018 with the best possible guide, Jesus Christ. He was born in West Prestonsburg, Kentucky to George Dewey Ratliff and Alma Whitaker Ratliff on December 4, 1946. The family left the coal mines of eastern Kentucky in 1952 and moved to South Bend, Indiana where the auto industry was flourishing. Menifee attended schools primarily in North Liberty and Greene Township from which he graduated in 1965, the last in his class to walk the stage because everyone else was shorter than he. In 1966, at the height of the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as a flight engineer in the Forward Air Command. He was on the perimeter of his base during the Tet Offensive in January 1968. During his time in Vietnam, the plane on which he served as flight mechanic was shot down and thus did he cheat death for the first time. He was discharged in December 1969 as a Sergeant and in January 1970, on a blind date, he met the woman who would become his lifetime fishing partner, Susan Jane Conklin. They married on August 14, 1970 in Mishawaka, Indiana. A short series of jobs led him to Indiana Bell in 1972 and he proudly served Ma Bell until his retirement in 2005. During that time, he moved his family from South Bend to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Upon his retirement, Menifee and Sue began a new chapter and decided they should be travel agents. This venture proved not only successful but exciting, as they visited the world in a way they never dreamed. After 10 years, Menifee's health issues caused them to retire again and live on the fishing lake he always dreamed of. Both Menifee and Sue agreed they were living in the happiest time of their lives.

Death was cheated again in 1998 and 2014, by heart attack, until its final victory.

Menifee was a man who believed that the Bible was the word of God and was infallible. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Athens and baptized and ordained a Deacon at Parkdale Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and a 100% disabled veteran. His exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam took his life, but it took almost 51 years to do it.

Menifee is survived by his son, Marc Allen Ratliff of Austin, Texas; Jennifer Jane Koerth and her husband, Dr. Steven Koerth of Athens, Texas; grandchildren, Alexa Jane Koerth, Zoe Renee Koerth and Mitchell Ryan Koerth; sister, Teresa Lynn Ratliff and nephew, Christopher Hostetler both of Georgetown, Texas; sister-in-law, Sister Julie Pederson; niece, Ann Ratliff and nephews, Caleb and Christian Ratliff; sister-in-law, Cindy Keenan and her husband Jeffrey Keenan of Montgomery, Texas, numerous cousins, and friends too many to list. His parents and his younger brother, G. Dewey Ratliff, Jr. preceded him in death.

A Memorial Service has been scheduled for 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at First Baptist Church, Athens with Dr. Kyle Henderson officiating.

Please remember Menifee whenever you get up in the morning and the sky is clear and the wind is calm as you drop that first hook into the water.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 105 S. Carroll St., Athens, Texas 75751; or to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.
Published in South Bend Tribune on Dec. 16, 2018