Shirley Ramsey

Shirley Mae (Oerlein) Ramsey was born in 1925 in Detroit, Michigan and was the daughter of Henry and Bernadette (Begin) Oerlein and sister to Mary Louise Riddell. She was raised on a farm on Sugarbush Road near Mount Clemens, Michigan then her family moved to a home on Lemay in Detroit, Michigan. They lived near their extended family. She attended St. Rose High School. After graduating, Shirley immediately began working at Hudson Motor Car Company as a secretary. She met future husband who was serving in the Air Force, Charles Ramsey at a dance hall in Detroit. They were married and lived on the military bases in Missouri, then Biloxi, Mississippi. After leaving active duty, Chuck and Shirley returned to Michigan where he went into the reserves and became a Major in the Air Force. They lived in Royal Oak, Birmingham, and then Warren so he would be close to his client, General Motors, while working for IBM. Shirley returned to Hudson Motors, which was bought by American Motors. She became an Executive Secretary for the Head of International Marketing at American Motors. Shirley and Chuck traveled through the U.S. and globally. She loved her career but took early retirement to care for her husband. After Chuck’s passing, Shirley volunteered at St. Joan of Arc Church and spent time with her family including her sister, brother-in-law, five nephews and nieces; Don and Ann Riddell, Cindy and Clem Kolesar, Pamela Riddell, Jeff and Nancy Riddell, Lynn and John Mroz.

Shirley loved her eight great nephews and nieces and eleven great great nephews and nieces. Shirley was fortunate to meet and be together with Ray Bartholomew for over twenty-five years. They enjoyed many adventures together including traveling across the country to visit family and friends and going to casinos. Shirley was an inspiration to those she met in life. She had a strong faith, optimism, and deep concern for others. She touched everyone she met and will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate to know her. She was known as Aunt Shirley by family and friends and leaves a legacy of love, curiosity, and joy for life.

Visitation Friday, June 7th from 5pm until 9pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road, in Warren. Visitation Saturday, June 8th from 11am until time of Funeral Service at 12pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home in Warren. Burial to take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Twp. Memorial donations to St. Thecla Catholic Church Food Pantry are appreciated.

Livestream Link for Shirley's service can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-dj6rHLUzM