Carolyn Ratcliffe

Carolyn H Ratcliffe, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 3, 2024, in Gulf Breeze, FL.

 She was born on November 4, 1934, in Pikeville, Kentucky, to Georgia (See) and Harry Ratcliffe as the youngest of their eleven (11) children. Her siblings immediately nicknamed her Dusty, and most people knew her as such until much later in her life.

 Dusty was preceded in death by all members of her family of origin, which consisted of six (6) brothers and four (4) sisters. She was an aunt to seventeen (17) nieces and nephews in the extended family.

 She was married to the late Robert Houchin for 29 years before divorce in 1985.

 She is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Brooks, Gulf Breeze, and Theresa Roman (Mike) Hilliard, OH. Carolyn was a grandmother to five (5) – Sara Navarro (Guillermo), Eric Gile, Emily Williams (Nick), Rachel Lockridge (Brandon), and Jessica Roman. Her legacy also includes five (5) great grandchildren – Benjamin and Sofia Navarro, Brooks and Reid Williams, and Henry Roman Lockridge.

 During her life, Carolyn enjoyed life in Louisville, KY; Dowagiac, MI, Cincinnati, OH; and Winchester, VA, before moving to Northwest Florida in 1985. She resided in Crestview for 25 years, as a child care provider. In 2010 she retired and moved to Gulf Breeze to live with her daughter.

 Carolyn was an expert seamstress and enjoyed cross-stitch and crewel embroidery. She loved music and sang in the United Methodist church choir throughout her years in Cincinnati. She was also a member of a women’s chorus group called “The Mother Singers” during that same time. In retirement, she participated in a senior exercise group, enjoyed reading, word puzzles, and baking.

 Carolyn was a joy-filled woman, with an effervescent personality that filled the room, along with a delightful laugh that was contagious.

 No services are planned at this time. The family will celebrate her life at a beach gathering and her ashes will be released into the Gulf of Mexico at a future date. She truly loved the beach!

 Carolyn supported many charitable organizations, but two of her favorite were St Jude’s Children Hospital and the SPCA. 

 The family is forever grateful for the care and support of the staff at Bay Breeze Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center, and the hospice providers with VITAS, who provided loving, compassionate, and dignified care for her in her final months of life.