Doris Pearl Blackwell

Doris Pearl Ratliff Blackwell SHREVEPORT, LA - Doris Pearl Ratliff was born on April 22, 1928 to Theodore John and Emma Catherine Grimes Ratliff in Hayes, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Clifford Blackwell, and her sisters, Eleanor Ruth Ratliff and Dorothy Catherine Ratliff Ricketts. She is survived by her daughter, Claire Blackwell Brutke (husband Richard Brutke), son, Brian Blackwell (wife Paula), grandsons, Eric (wife Jessie) and Mark Brutke, and great-grandson, Luke Brutke. She is also survived by nieces Bertha White and Judith Herrington, and nephews, Edward, Jim, John, and Rev. James Blackwell. Doris attended Northwestern State University, beginning in 1946 and returned to complete her Bachelors degree in Science Education in 1971 after raising her family. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society at the time of her graduation. Doris became a certified Medical Technologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists while she worked in Beaumont, Texas, Metairie, Louisiana, and at Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport. Doris and Clifford moved from New Orleans to Shreveport in 1954. Doris was a wonderful homemaker and looked forward to family reunions and extended family gatherings during holidays. She enjoyed seeing the country on summer vacations that her late husband Clifford and she planned, ranging from coast to coast. She worked and saved to send herself back, and both of her children, to college. She and her late sister Dorothy researched and documented their family history, which they happily shared with their many cousins and extended family. Visitation with the family will take place at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Marshall at 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2016. A graveside service and burial will be conducted at Meridian Cemetery in Meridian, Texas at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2016. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Broadmoor United Methodist Church, or Shriner\'s Hospital.