Terrance “Terry” Wayne Ratliff
Oct. 9, 1967 – Feb. 21, 2020
BURLINGAME — Terrance “Terry” Wayne Ratliff died Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at home with his family by his side, after fighting a near year-long battle with cancer. Terry died just as he had lived. He wrote his own rules, fought authority, paved his own way. If you said he could not do it, he would make sure he could. He was 52.
Terry was born Oct. 9, 1967, in Topeka. His family knew him as a very honest, reserved individual. He was kind, caring and had a heart of gold. However, do not let this chastise the fun Terry had in his life with family and friends. The stories will never end.
He graduated from Burlingame High School in 1986. After high school, he spent several years flying through the sky as he developed a love for skydiving and base jumping. In 1992, he began working for Insulation and Drywall Contractors and did not steer too far from there, working his last day in March 2019.
Terry had a passion for two things in his later years, his daughter of 16 years and guns. He was the most dedicated father and always willing to go to the depths of the earth for his sweet Savannah. Obviously, when a daughter comes along, she must be protected. Terry embraced sharpshooting and excelled well, participating in many Steel and IDPA Championships in Kansas and bordering states. His evenings and weekends were usually spent on a shooting range somewhere.
He is survived by his daughter, Savannah; his parents, Carolyn Griffin (David Griffin) and Jim Ratliff (Bonita Ratliff); a brother, James Ratliff (Lisa Ratliff); three sisters, Angel Ward, April Johnston and Amanda; nine nieces; and six nephews.
A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Grace Assembly Church, 729 S. Topeka Ave., Burlingame, KS 66413.
