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Peggy Ratliff Givan

September 5, 2007

Peggy (nee Fairbairn)

Ratliff Givan, RN


Peggy Ratliff Givan died September 5, 2007 after a courageous month long battle with Carcinoid cancer. She was born on August 2, 1920, the fifth of six children of Maurice ‘Cap’ Fairbairn and his wife Emily Jane, proprietors of the Lorne Hotel on Vancouver Island in Comox, BC, Canada.


She was preceded in death by her first husband Archie P. Ratliff, Jr., MD of Everett and her second husband Harry L. Givan of Seattle. She is survived by her

children Susan Ratliff Reichmann (former husband Frank J. Reichmann, MD), ‘Bud’ Archie P. Ratliff, III, Kim Ratliff (wife Leska), seven grandchildren: Holly Reichmann-Young (Christopher Young), Hilary Reichmann Boyce (Scott Boyce), Graham Reichmann (Lyndsey Smith), Matthew Reichmann, Heather Reichmann, Nicholas Reichmann and David Ratliff, great grandchildren Jaima and Jessamyn Reichmann-Young, Magnhild and Maddox Boyce. Her step family includes Boyd Givan (Ann), Sharon Givan (Douglas Detloff), Wendy Givan Hess, (Michael Evans), six grandchildren and thirteen great

grandchildren.

She grew up in the Lorne Hotel, graduated from Comox High School where she was captain of the basketball team and a caddy at the Comox Golf Club. After graduation from Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing in the class of 1947, she and four VGH

classmates known as “the Naughty Five” left for the bright lights of Los Angeles. She came to Seattle and met her first husband, Archie, at Doctors Hospital and they settled in his home town of Everett in 1950 after

the birth of their daughter Susan. Not long after Bud was born, Dr. Ratliff was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, with the US Army where they lived for two years, returning to Everett to resume his medical practice. She was the office nurse until Kim was born and then volunteered with the Snohomish County Medical Auxiliary and the Snohomish County Blood Bank. Her most proud moment in 60 years of nursing was pinning her grandson, Graham, at his graduation from nursing school in March, passing on her passionate love of

medicine.

In addition to golf, she learned to hike, snow ski and water ski along with her children, entertaining friends and family at the family summer home at Lake Stevens and at the Everett Ski Club at Stevens Pass. After the death of her husband, she returned to work as a nurse at Planned Parenthood of Snohomish County, the Washington State Penitentiary in Monroe, the psychiatric unit at Everett General Hospital and finally, as an office nurse in Dr. Reichmann’s family practice. No place Peg spent time ever remained the same as she touched people’s hearts with her quick wit and compassion. Whether you met her at 27 or 87, she was certain to make you laugh or offer a helping hand. Her bright orange door on Federal Avenue was open to

all.

Her lifelong love of golf will be remembered by her many friends at Everett Golf and Country Club and resulted in her second marriage to Harry Givan in 1984. They enjoyed their years together, golfing in the US and Canada, and spending time with their many grandchildren until his death in 1999. Peg enjoyed the activities of the ladies divisions at Everett and Seattle Golf Club and will be remembered for her infamous rendition of Minnie Pearl and as the winner of the “Ageless Lady” golf competition in 2002.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Seattle Golf Club, 210 NW 145th, Seattle, WA 98177 and titled “Peg’s Pink Party”. Guests are asked to wear her favourite colour, the brighter the better, men included and Hawaiian garb

is encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances to the Northwest Hospital Foundation, 1550 North 115th Street, M/S D-164, Seattle, 98133 or the Evans Scholarship Fund

c/o Seattle Golf Club are preferred.



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