Kylee Bryanne Ratzlaff

Kylee Bryanne Ratzlaff, 13, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026 near her residence in Macon, MS. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Brook Haven Mennonite Church, 7361 Hwy 388, Brooksville MS 39739. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church Tuesday March 24, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. Memorials for Kylee may be given to Brook Haven Mennonite Church: 14547 Macon Lynn Creek Road, Brooksville, MS 39739. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Our dear daughter, Kylee Bryanne, was born November 22, 2012, to Evan and Carissa (Koehn) Ratzlaff at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge, KS, She was suddenly taken home on March 21, 2026, in an accident involving a side by side. She passed away doing what she loved, chasing birds on the fish ponds for Daddy. After waiting in the driveway to make sure Momma saw her wave, with a shining face she left the yard for the last time. We are devastated and torn but we know she is at Home. We are grateful for the assurance that she got her dream of spending Grandma’s birthday with her in Heaven. Kylee’s early years were spent in Halstead, KS. When she was 3, we left Halstead behind and moved to Mississippi. Our first 6 months here were spent in the Leland area, after which we moved to East Mississippi and settled into Noxubee County. She was a “daddy’s girl” through and through and she was not ashamed to admit it. In the past couple weeks she was overheard expressing those words in conversation again. She attended Countryside Christian School for all 7 of her school years. She was excited to be in Mr. Giesbrecht’s class this year. Kylee answered the call of God at age 10 and was baptized on August 27, 2023 by Min. Galen Schmidt. She was steady in her faith and remained true to her vows. She had her struggles and was ready to admit them when asked. A couple days before her sudden passing she shared with her Momma on the way to school about how happy and free she was. When asked if she knew why, she said: “Yes, I spent a long time on my knees in my room this morning.” She was young, but she seemed to be able to connect with people, especially those who were hurting. She spent time in prayer and her greatest desire was that each of her classmates would make it to Heaven. She often mentioned specifically praying for each one of them on the nights when she couldn’t sleep.

She enjoyed crafts like making epoxy coasters, doodling or drawing, and coloring. She enjoyed painting, and it was not uncommon to find a small personal handwritten note here and there. Kylee had some very pretty handwriting. She enjoyed cooking things and it seemed to be a therapy. In the last week she had made a cake of many colors. She also had a recipe for cream cheese brownies that her brothers often asked for. A pan of them never seemed to last very long. She had a seemingly insatiable love for pickles, much to some of her brothers dismay. She was often seen eating them with a teasing look on her face and making sure all the brothers knew that the pickles were out. She had an ornery side and she pulled her fair share of pranks. She also enjoyed spending time with just her family and singing. Rarely did we get out of the driveway on the way to town before her and Michael would have the songbooks out picking a song to sing. A recent trip to the farm show where her daddy was working in a booth found her sitting on the floor in the back of the booth. She told Momma she just wanted to be close to Daddy. She loved nature and especially flowers. The morning of her passing she and Momma discussed a plan for a flower garden in the front yard. We are sad that she won’t be able to help us with it. Coffee and watching the sunrise peek over the trees and across the fish ponds were a delight to her. She spent countless hours outside with her volleyball practicing. She loved it. When the going got tough you could almost always find her somewhere with her volleyball. Her last day she went to school, she came home from school with quite an achievement and she was excited. She’d spiked the volleyball, which was always a goal of hers. Many spring and summer days, despite having worked hard all day, all three children could be found playing together with Trey, shooting hoops. Shooting hoops, as she called it, was another favorite activity. She was happy when we got the new basketball hoop installed so she could shoot baskets again. The beach was another one of her favorite places and we had just returned from a short family vacation to the beach one week ago. We took a dolphin tour and she was thrilled when she saw her first baby dolphin beside the boat. Though we are left with aching hearts, as we reflect over the past, we see that she told each of us goodbye in her own little way. We spent our last evening together making one of her favorite meals that she requested: smashburgers on the blackstone with bacon and grilled onions, and of course pickles.

Those left with broken hearts are her parents, Evan and Carissa Ratzlaff, blood brothers Kasen (10) and Chandler (8), her heart big brother whom she accepted and loved very much, Michael Koetsier (19), all of the home. Special friend and playmate, Trey Ellis, Macon, MS Grandparents, Kerry and Julie Ratzlaff, Halstead, KS. Gene and Linda Koehn, Ruleville, MS. Heart grandparents, Grandpa Richard and Grandma Nette (Janette) Johnson, and little sister Halle, Brooksville, MS. Her classmates at Countryside Christian School, Brooksville, MS and a special classmate Heath Unruh, Columbus, MS. Many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends whom she adored.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandma, Karen Koehn.