Ernest Ray Klatt

Ernest Ray Klatt, of Midland, Texas, passed away on Sunday, July 30, 2023.  The family will receive guests from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Jesus Name United Pentecostal Church.  Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Ernest Ray Klatt was born on December 23, 1934 to William Ernest and Dorsett Josephine Klatt in Midland, Texas.  He attended Midland High School and graduated in 1952. Over the next year he attended a Technical School in Ft. Worth earning a Machinist degree.  After graduating he went to work for Convair as a machinist building airplanes for the Korean War.  On April 2, 1956 he married the love of his life Thelma Ann Mifflin of Carbondale, Illinois.  The two had a very short honeymoon, on the very next day they started Klatt Lawnmower and Repair Shop, later changing the name to Midland Small Engine Services.  The company has been successfully run for 67 years as their son and daughter have taken over the day-to-day operations.  Ernest and Ann were blessed with three amazing children Ray, Tracy and Teresa.

Ernest enjoyed the outdoors.  He loved to share his love for the outdoors with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He loved the outdoors so much that he purchased a beautiful piece of property, around 1980, on the Colorado River near Brady where he and his family spent any free time they had.  He had a passion for raising cattle and did so on his ranch.  He loved western movies.  He may not have known it but he was the family’s John Wayne.

Ernest was a simple man, but simple was far from the description of the man.  He loved his family and friends.  He was a man that would do anything he could to help a person in need.  He donated his time and money to the community and wanted no recognition.  He did not know a stranger.  He was a man of faith and he would share his faith with anyone he came in contact with.  He had a unique way of being able to have an individual relationship with each person he knew.

Ernest Ray Klatt is survived by his wife Ann Klatt of Midland, son Ray Klatt and wife Darla of Midland, daughter Teresa Murphy and husband Ronnie of Midland, granddaughter Lynessa Thornton and husband Kevin, granddaughter Stephanie Cooper and husband Ryan, grandson Cory Klatt, grandson Chase Wooten and wife Leah, great grandchildren Jamie Murphy, Cale Murphy, Brayden Thornton, Berkley Thornton, Addilynn Wooten, CJ Wooten, Maizy Wooten, Maveryck Cooper, Griffyn Cooper, and Jennsyn Cooper, and many nieces and nephews.

Ernest Ray Klatt was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eddie Wayne Klatt, sister Barbara Ann Black, son Tracy Lane Klatt, and granddaughter Kristyn Leigh Klatt.

Pallbearers will be Cory Klatt, Chase Wooten, Cale Murphy, Kevin Thornton, Rick Maddox, Ray Klatt, and Brayden Thornton.  Honorary pallbearer will be Ryan Cooper.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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