Our beloved Mother and Nana, Deanna Greening Ratliff went to sleep in Jesus on the morning of December 29, 2022 at 85 years old.
Deanna was born to Elmer and Leona Greening, on December 7, 1937 in Southern California. As a child, she loved to ride her horse all over the San Fernando Valley.
Deanna met Jack Pfaender during her senior year at North Hollywood High. They were married in 1955. Though this relationship was not permanent, they did have three beautiful children together, Laura, Julie and Gina, and remained friends afterwards.
Deanna met Ruben Ratliff in Joshua Tree, California, and they were married December 11, 1964. They relocated to Oakdale, California in 1970, and she was blessed with one more daughter, Elizabeth Joy.
Deanna’s children gave her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was easy going and carefree; a bright light in our hearts. She cared so much for all of us and made an effort to be there and involved in each of our lives. She was always up for an adventure and never let age hold her back. I think what we’ll miss most about her was her free spirit and positive attitude. She could always find the beauty in the ashes. She made sure we all knew that Jesus loves us. We were so proud to be a part of her life and show her off to our friends. She was so cool.
Her love and dedication extended beyond her family to her community of Oakdale and her church family at the Oakdale Seventh Day Adventist Church. Some of you may remember her as “Carrot” the petite, school bus driver with a big, beautiful smile on her ever-cheerful face.
Deanna joins in peaceful rest, her husband Ruben Ratliff and her daughter Julie Peabody, as they sleep until the trumpet sounds. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and Matthew Gagen, Gina and Greg Dalrymple and Elizabeth Ratliff, her many grandchildren, Sara, Pete, Emily, Andy, Jesse, Jason, Julie, Shae, Thomas, David, Michael, Anna and Jayden as well as her great-grandchildren, Kimberly, Anna, Claire, Emily, Ryan, Nicky, Ricky, David, Isaac, Sara, Andrew, Nalysia, Hillary, Joshua, and Charlie Ann. Each one of us knew her and loved her, and will miss her dearly.
Please join us at the Oakdale Seventh Day Adventist Church as we celebrate her life on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 3 p.m.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
March 15, 2023
