Joan Marlyn Ramsey

At a young age Joan and her family moved to the Yakima Valley. She graduated from Yakima High School with the class of 1956 and then attended Yakima Valley Community College. While there a young man, Don Ramsey, got enough nerve to ask her to a dance. She said yes and that was the beginning of a wonderful life with her husband of 58 years.

In the early years before starting their family, Joan was a secretary for the director of the Boy Scouts of America, and executive secretary to the Mayor of Yakima, Joe K. Alderson. After taking a break to raise their four children, Joan retuned to work. From 1979-88 Joan was the cheerful voice you heard when you called Wide Hollow Elementary, and then Apple Valley Elementary. As a school secretary she greeted visitors with a smile, supported staff, and gave countless band-aids to children in need of a little TLC.

In her retirement years, she and Don traveled in their motorhome from Alaska to the Baja, and all states west of the Mississippi. They enjoyed their travel group to many places throughout North America and Europe as well. In addition, she and Don took every opportunity to be involved in her grandchildren’s sporting events. Joan was beautiful both inside and out. She was voted Miss Apple Blossom Princess by her classmates, and later in 1956 was crowned Miss Yakima. But her true beauty was within. She was a lady of grace, beauty, compassion, and elegance. Family was the most important thing to Joan. She spent countless hours with her girls baking cookies and pies. No one could make a better pie crust than Joan. She enjoyed sewing, picking huckleberries, camping at Priest Lake, and family gatherings. Everything she did whether cooking, sewing or giving care was done with much love. She truly was an amazing person and will be remembered forever.

She is survived by her devoted husband Don; daughters Jill (Mark) Cofano and Gail (Jimmy) Buchanan; son Sherman (Kim) Ramsey; brothers Don Lydin and Ken Lydin; sister Bernice Bull; and seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, sister Alberta Sommerfeldt, brother William Lydin, and daughter Julie Dee Keller.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Joan’s Life at her home on Saturday, March 26, 2016 from 1:00-4:00.

Memorial contributions in honor of Joan can be sent to the Cottage in The Meadow.

To share a memory of Joan, visit www.keithandkeith.com.