Gwen ?Ardelle? Evans Ratchford, 72, of Kennewick, passed away March 26, 2007 from complications following hip surgery, surrounded by the love of her devoted family. Ardelle was born on January 2, 1935 in Boise, Idaho to Clinton and Edith Evans. The Evans? moved to Pasco, Washington in 1943. Ardelle attended Pasco High School and was a proud Bulldog Majorette. She soon married the love of her life, Gwynn ?Dale? Ratchford, in 1952. Dale and Ardelle were blessed with three children; Deborah Joyce in 1952, Connie Lea in 1953, and Mitchell Dale in 1963. Mostly, Ardelle was a homemaker, caring not only for her home, but for her large extended family. She worked for periods of time at Baker?s Nursery with Mimmie and later with Dale at Marx Heating and Air. Ardelle was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with Dale to Mexico, Hawaii, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany. Some of the activities she was involved with and enjoyed through the years included horseracing; bowling; dancing; the Kennewick Grid Kids? concession stand shopping tirelessly for the very best deal she could find; boating and fishing and following her fishermen to many tournaments; both watching and playing softball at many tournaments; and planting flowers and growing tomatoes. Ardelle also spent quality time with her friends and family playing cards; finding yard sales; going to bingo; picking asparagus; and cannin? teaching her oldest grandkids the value of a penny. She so enjoyed several trips to Jackpot with her dear friends, Carol, Faustine, and Helen. Ardelle loved, and was loved by, so many people. Her children and their spouses and her grandbabies and great-grandbabies were a source of great pride for her. She was seen at countless football, baseball, softball, wrestling, and basketball games. Preceding her in death was her husband Dale; her sisters Peggy Masoner, Marvelle Morgan, and Mary Hofstrand; her brother Freddie Evans; and her parents, Clinton and Edith Evans; and her father-in-law William Odis Ratchford. Ardelle is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Debbie and Arvid Larson, Connie and Rex Gillispie; her son and daughter-in law Mitch and Sheri Ratchford; her grandchildren, Jodi and Mike Mahan, Keith and Holly Larson, Cyndi and Drew Austin, April and Dan O?Rourke, Brent and Jodi Gillispie, Mandy and Kyle Bateman, Lucas Ratchford, Josh and Morgan Ratchford, Kelvin, Chase, and Kari Ratchford; her great-grandchildren; Molly, Matthew, Mason, and Marshall Mahan; Hayden and Parker Larson; Rachel, Kaitlin, and Ethan Austin; Austin and Gracie O?Rourke; Gage, Tatum and Gwyneth Gillispie; and; McKenzie and Jordyn Ratchford; her 103-year-old mother-in-law Ellen; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Zoe and Glenn Hilst, Maudotha Ratchford, Billie and Don Hightower, and Wayne and Evelyn Ratchford; her sister, Joanne Evans Muscatell and brothers, Willie and Don Evans; her many adored nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews; and her dear, lifelong friends, including the families of the Crows, Langstons, and Sanduskys. A celebration of Ardelle?s life will be on Saturday, March 31st, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Joy, 1153 Gage Blvd, Richland, WA 99352. A brief graveside service will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park. Visitations/Viewings will be Friday, March 30th from 3:00 to 8:00pm at Mueller?s Tri-Cities Funeral Home 1401 S. Union, Kennewick, WA 99337 and Saturday, March 31st from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. - prior to services at Cathedral of Joy. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Kennewick Grid Kids; c/o Washington Trust Bank, 3250 W. Clearwater Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336. We love you very much, Ardelle; a whole blue sky full. You will never know how much.