O.L. 'Shorty' Ratheal

Ode Lee "Shorty" Ratheal 91, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 in Amarillo. Services will be at 11:00 AM Saturday at Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel with Rev. Leon Green, Baptist minister officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery with Military Honors by Volleys for Veterans. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Shorty proudly served in the Navy during WWII. While working in the oilfields of Mississippi, Shorty met and married his love, Mary Francis Ferguson on December 22, 1949 Columbia, MS. They soon moved back to his native state and settled in Amarillo where they raised their family. He was a member of San Jacinto Masonic Lodge #1330 A.F.&A.M and was in the Shriner's motorcycle brigade. Shorty and his father went into business custom harvesting and independent trucking, after that he ventured into business for himself, partnering in a truck stop on Route 66. He went to work for Chemical Express where he worked for 32 years. Shorty loved woodworking and could duplicate anything he saw without a pattern. When he received items for repair, they were fixed promptly and better than when it was new. Shorty also enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping and every now and then raising a cow or two. Shorty was a member of Bolton Street Baptist Church. He was particularly biased about his Sunday School class being the best and really enjoyed the monthly Men's Prayer breakfasts. Shorty was a man of integrity and always did what he said he would do and exactly when he said he would. He cared deeply for his family, friends and pets. He was preceded in death by a son, Oda Lee Ratheal in 2002. Survivors include his wife Frances; two daughters, Mary Beth Thompson and her husband Stewart and Debra Sue Gaines and her husband Donald all of Amarillo; one son, David Ratheal and his wife Laura of Amarillo; one sister, Vivian McPherson of Hereford; six grandchildren, Jerrico, Courtney, Amanda, Dustin, Braxton and Sarah; 11 great-grandchildren and 3 Great-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:00 Friday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Bolton Street Baptist Church, 2555 S. Bolton St. Amarillo, TX 79103. SERVICES Funeral Service Saturday, March 3, 2018 11:00 AM Rector Funeral Home 2800 South Osage Amarillo, Texas 79103