Lavada's Story
Lavada Zell Ratliff was born on September 8, 1935 in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. Her parents were Essie Zell Snowden Ratliff and father Dale Franklin Ratliff. Her parents went on to have 4 more children: Haskell, Daniel, Ray, and Mary. As the oldest child, Lavada was responsible to help care for her younger siblings. She loved them dearly.
Lavada shared that for much of their childhood they all would share one bed. You see, the family was very poor. They were migrant workers moving often - most of the time from Oklahoma to California, Oregon and Arizona. They picked cotton and various crops alongside mostly immigrant families. Sometimes, they lived in a house with dirt floors, a tent, or even under the stars with the little furniture they owned spread out under a tree. They worked very hard. Fun times were spent swimming, fishing, and playing music together.
Lavada played the banjo as a child and had a beautiful voice. However, as she got older, she stopped playing the banjo but developed singing more. In high school she was a featured vocalist for a local country music group who had a radio show. She was well known in her Oklahoma area for that.
Lavada would share openly about her childhood, both the good and the difficult experiences. Most days her dinner consisted of one item, such as corn on the cob or beans with cornbread. Maybe a piece of homemade bread soaked in milk. Christmas did bring gifts of a doll or a ball if they had a good year. If times were lean, they received an apple and an orange.
Lavada’s parents had a very troubled marriage, often time resulting in fights. She was told by her father to keep her crying siblings quiet because of his angry outbursts. Because of this, their relationship was strained until she was an adult when she was able to forgive him. This was important to her because family was always of utmost importance in her life.
Her mother always made sure the children were taken to church. Sometimes they had to ride in a horse drawn wagon or walk long distances, but Zell would take them because she believed their spiritual upbringing was very important. This was carried out throughout Lavada’s entire life.
A funny story that she and her brother liked to re-live and laugh about occurred when she was about 12 years old living in Arizona. They rode the school bus every day, and this particular bus had a seat in the front that Lavada always sat on. Everyone knew that was her place. A new family moved in and was picked up before the Ratliff children, and that family had a 12 year old girl as well. This new girl decided she would occupy Lavada’s seat. So as they often handled things in that day, Lavada decided they would fight for it. She challenged the girl and her younger brother to fight herself and her brother Danny. So they met after school, and the boys fought and the girls fought. However, the boys soon decided they would just be friends and proceeded to watch the much more intense girl brawl. Soon Lavada had the other girl pinned down, and demanded the girl say she would not sit in her seat! After the confession, Lavada then told the girl they would take turns and that is what they did the rest of that school year.
At the age of 13, Lavada’s family returned to their home state of Oklahoma. This is where Lavada graduated from High School. She was a basketball player and loved sports. She was also very beautiful and popular among her classmates. It was in her senior year that she met the love of her life, Joe Condo. You see, Lavada had another steady beau at the time, but her friend was dating Joe’s brother, and they needed a double date partner for the night. Joe was in the navy and home on a short leave. After her friend (Eva Jo who later married Joes brother, Sam) persuaded her to go by finishing a sewing project for Lavada, off they went. Lavada immediately fell for this handsome man, and he was also quite smitten with her. They continued to correspond after he left and very quickly were engaged, and then married, after her graduation.
Life was fun for this couple. Joe worked in the oil fields while Lavada stayed home. They were not married long before they found they would have their first child. Lazella Danielle Condo was born April 21, 1955. Then on July 3, 1956, they welcomed their first son, Joseph Lesley Condo Jr. Life was very full for this young couple, but they decided Joe should go to college and become an engineer. So for 6 long years he went to school, often working several jobs as well. Lavada also worked to supplement the income. This was very hard for her, and soon Joe insisted that she stay home with their children. During this time, they lived first in New Mexico where he went to university and worked at the base there. Later he transferred to Oklahoma State University to finish his degree.
A few months after he graduated, he received a job offer at LTV in Grand Prairie Texas. This is where they would live and raise their children. Their third and final child, Valerie Lynn Condo was born on August 21, 1962. They adored all of their children and made life fun for them, tempered with a lot of love and discipline. Joe loved to rebuild engines and always had go-carts and mini-bikes for the kids. Joe and Lavada also were very self-sufficient and taught their children to be the same. They owned horses and cows, and they always had large gardens for the family to work in.
Joe always had side businesses and usually "employed" the kids. They expected the kids to work hard and earn spending money, providing avenues to do just that. Lavada attended cosmetology school with Danielle so that she could take care of the family's hair. When the kids were old enough to drive, Joe and Lavada would always provide them with a car - but it was one that had been refurbished by Joe. The family also enjoyed camping and fishing. They owned an RV and boat so they could spend a lot of time doing that. The family never were without what they needed and usually wanted, but it was done Joe and Lavada style.
Lavada was all about the family. She was the room mother for all her children. She served on the PTA and always knew the teachers. Lavada was even more involved in her church. She served the Assemblies of God in North Texas by being a Sectional Leader for the girls program, Missionettes. She concurrently served as her church’s coordinator for that same program. She believed in Missionettes so much that she personally completed all of the requirements to become a STAR, which included complete a Bible read, extensive scripture memorization, and many other tasks. She also served her church by leading the women’s group and singing many specials. Lavada was always available to help.
Too soon for her, her children married and left home. She loved their spouses and always made them feel welcome. Soon, however, her world would change when her first grandchild was born. David Jr. came into the world in the late 1970's Soon to be followed by Lesley, Stephanie, Krystal, Derek, Clint and finally Chelsea. These grandchildren became her and Joe’s world. Every sporting event, every school or church event was attended. Pictures covered the walls and filled books. New riding toys were bought. Toy kitchens to make mud pies were put out to use. As the children got older, they invested in a lake house and jet skis to entertain the kids. Trips were also taken in their RV, building a lot of fun memories. No grandparents were more proud than Lavada and Joe.
Lavada wanted to make sure her family felt loved, so she went all out for Christmas. She baked for weeks ahead of time. One fun thing she did was bake Joes favorite mincemeat cookies, and he would eat several dozen straight from the oven. She always had lots of gifts for the family to unwrap on Christmas day and everyone was sure to be there. It was her favorite time of year. Thanksgiving and Easter were a close second and she always made them loving and fun.
Lavada was overjoyed when her grandchildren had babies. She treated them all with love and care, always interested in everything they did. Maylee, Kaylyn, Ethan, Kalei, Jaycee, Kobe, Lowee, Averie, Blake and Madison have made her a very happy great-grandmother. As the Bible says, “her quiver is full.”
As she and Joe got older, they decided to move to Midlothian Texas to be closer to all of their children who lived nearby. There they created new memories for everyone and made even more friends. They had always enjoyed a lot of friends and an active social life. Lavada took up oil painting at the age of 50, and this became even more important to her. She taught many people what she knew and hosted numerous painting classes at her home. Many family members and friends proudly display her paintings even now.
Joe passed away in 2014. He had a relatively short illness, but for all of it she was by his side. Their love had weathered life so strong and beautiful, and they were still madly in love. She missed him extremely. However, Lavada found in herself the strength to continue to live in their home alone for many years. She mowed the yard, tended her garden and flower beds, hosted family holidays like she always did, and lived a very active life. However, around 2020 her health started to decline. After another health crisis, she sold her house and moved into her daughter’s home. Nevertheless, her independence was still very important to her, so in 2024 she moved into an assisted living home where a few months later she passed away peacefully.
Lavada died on June 16, 2024 at the age of 88. Friends and family loved her dearly. She will always live in our hearts and be missed. In her last days, she spoke often of the importance of belief in Jesus Christ to anyone she would meet with because she wants us all to live there in heaven with her. Her life touched everyone.
Written by her daughter Valerie Wilson, 2024
Obituary
On Sunday, June 16,2024, Lavada Condo, age 88 of Red Oak (formerly Midlothian and Grand Prairie) graduated peacefully to her reward. She was born on September 8, 1935 in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. Her childhood years consisted of living in various states such as Oregon, California, New Mexico and more. They were farmers, migrant workers that forged a love of gardening in Lavada that lasted her entire life. In her teen years, her family moved back to Oklahoma where she graduated from Sweetwater High School. Shortly after graduation, she married the love of her life, Joe Condo. They made a wonderful life together living in Oklahoma, then Texas for most of their marriage. Lavada and Joe welcomed three children, Danielle, Joe Jr., and Valerie. The family was the center of her universe and Lavada was the best wife and mother anyone could hope for. Then along came grandchildren and her life was complete. Maw Maw was born and no one could imagine the depths of her love for those grandbabies. She looked for ways to create fun memories for all and those memories are priceless.
Lavada loved to fish, garden, paint, sing, and go on adventures in her big RV. She was always looking for a project and loved to remake things. Her creations were a source of conversation for all who knew her. She was fun loving and full of love to give to any and all. She was very vocal about her love for God and served in her church her entire life. She was the Sectional Missionette Director for many years because she loved seeing young people grow in their faith. She always found a way to tell others about her Jesus.
Lavada was preceded in death by her husband Joe Condo, parents Dale Ratliff and Essie Zell Ratliff along with brothers Hack Ratliff and Ray Ratliff. She is survived by her children Danielle Capehart (David), Joe Jr., Valerie Wilson (Steve), Grandchildren David Capehart (Johnna), Lesley Capehart, Stephanie Wilson-Dykes (Jody), Krystal Rigsby (James), Derek Dwilson (Stephanie), Clint Condo (Samantha), and Chelsea Raggio (Mike). She had 10 great-grandchildren she was so proud of, Kalei, Jaycee, Kobe, Lowee, Averie, Blake, Madison, Maylee, Kaylin, and Ethan. Sister Mary Brumley and brother Danny Ratliff along with loved nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the staff at Arabella Red Oak and Alpha Omega Hospice for the wonderful care they care her. She loved them all.
Published at the Wayne Boze Funeral Home
https://www.waynebozefuneralhome.com/obituaries/lavada-condo