Funeral services for Clider Velma Ratliff Kiker, 86, of Cantonment, FL and formerly of Hollandale will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 9 at Boone Funeral Home. She died Monday, January 4 at West Florida Hospital after suffering a stroke on New Years Eve. Burial will be in County Line Cemetery, Glen Allan.
Clider Kiker was born in Kilbourne, LA and raised in Oak Grove, LA. She graduated Kilbourne High School in 1946 followed by her diploma of nursing from Mercy Hospital Street Memorial in Vicksburg, MS in 1949. It was at Mercy Hospital where she met the love of her life, James Kiker. James and Clider were happily married on December 22, 1949, recently celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary.
Clider and James established their home outside of Hollandale, MS where they began to raise their family of five children, Myra, Nora, Jimmy, John and Teresa. She opened her home to niece and nephew, Alicia and Scooter Henderson, and raised them as her own after tragedy struck their family. Her Mother-in-Law, Alice Kiker lived with the family for several years, making for a full house of cherished memories and tradition.
Clider’s career of nursing began at Tallulah Hospital. She nursed at King’s Daughters Hospital and worked several years of private duty. She was the Director of Nurses at the Mississippi Extended Care Facility as well as South Washington County Hospital in Hollandale, MS. When her family moved to Florida in 1984, she worked in the family business for a few years, then retired in her late 50’s.
Clider was a sweet woman. She was a longtime member of Alexander Memorial Baptist Church. She helped in Riverside School PTA and went on school field trips. She loved to laugh.
Most importantly, she loved her husband, her children and her family. She was spoiled by their love.
She is preceded by her parents, John Rufus Ratliff and Montie Lillian Ratliff, her sister, Laura Owens and her sons, James W. Kiker, Jr. and John R. Kiker, daughter-in-law, Tracy Key Kiker and her son-in-law, Donald Sheetz II.
Clider is survived by her husband James W. Kiker of Cantonment, FL and her daughters, Myra J. Kiker of Cantonment, FL, Teresa O. Kiker of Cantonment, FL , Nora K. Sheetz of Pensacola, FL, and daughter-in-law, Kaye Cooper Kiker of Glen Allan, MS. She is also survived by grandchildren, Chris Reifers (Camille Hardin) of Memphis, TN, Jay Kiker, (Dawn) of Decatur, MS , Jonathon Hunter Kiker (Laura Davis), Nicole Shelton (Nicholas) of Kosciusko, MS, and eight great grandchildren including one on the way.
Pallbearers are Chris Reifers, Jay Kiker, Scooter Henderson, Taylor Henderson, David Thaggard, Frank Thaggard, Clarke Trotter, and Charlie Steele. Honorary pallbearers are Hunter Kiker and Bryan Newsom.
Visitation will be held at Boone Funeral Home, Greenville on Friday, January 8 from 5pm to 7pm.