Mary Ellen Ramsey

Mary Ellen (Walter) Ramsey was born August 20, 1922 in Oregon City, Oregon and died peacefully of natural causes, September 21, 2020 in Happy Valley, Oregon. During those years, Mary lived a life full of challenges and successes.

A child of the depression, Mary graduated in 1941 from Milwaukie High School, and married (Oscar) Daniel Ramsey in 1942. They traveled to Texas, where Dan was stationed in the Army Air Corps. After the war, they returned to Oregon and settled in Clackamas, where their two children were born; Dana, in 1945 and Daniel Deever, in 1947.

The Ramsey family moved to Southeast Portland in 1956, where Mary lived until she moved into a retirement community in Happy Valley in 2017.

Mary worked for the US Postal Service for 33-years and retired as Postmistress of the Clackamas branch in 1977.

Mary was an avid pool player and bowler, and in 1963, Mary won the title of Oregon State Women's Bowling Champion. She also enjoyed elk and deer hunting with her husband and her brothers. Although, Mary would actually scare an animal away rather than shoot it, she liked the camping, the campfires and the companionship. The family also spent many summers crabbing and clamming at Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast.

Mary loved watching all sports and was a fountain of knowledge, regardless of the sport or level of competition. She followed the Little League World Series, Women's College Fast-Pitch Softball, and College Baseball & Football with the same enthusiasm she had for the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. Later in life, Mary was thrilled and proud to be able to travel to Maryland to watch her great grandsons play sports! She also enjoyed trips and cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska with her family.

Mary played Pinochle with the same group of women for over 30-years, and when she moved into the senior living situation, Mary continued playing with her group, but also took full advantage of the social opportunities the community offered, especially the field trips to area casinos, and playing cards with several new groups of friends. Mary Ramsey was a generous benefactor to many friends and relatives in their times of need, as well as to numerous charities. She was very outgoing and never “met” a stranger.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Daniel Ramsey, Jr and her son, Daniel Deever Ramsey (Mary was her son's devoted caregiver his entire life), and her son-in-law, Larry Lowe. Mary is survived by her daughter, Dana Lowe, Marriottsvile, MD; her grandson, Dr. Stephen Lowe (wife Amy), great granddaughter Emily Lowe, and great grandsons, Brandon, Eric and Adam Lowe. She is also survived by her sister, Katie Welzbacker, and six nieces and nephews, including Mike & Kathy Walter, who were dedicated to Mary's care as representatives for her daughter, Dana.

Mary packed a lot of living into her 98-years, remaining mentally sharp to the very end; she was truly an example of “the Greatest Generation!” Mary will be truly missed by her family and friends.

A private funeral service will take place at Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home with internment at Willamette National Cemetery.