James Sydney Ramsey Jr.

Jim Ramsey passed away peacefully at home on September 7, 2023. Born in Overton, Texas on December 7, 1937, James Sydney Ramsey, Jr. loved fully, played (golf) hard, and worked hard. Anyone who knew him would call him a family man first. That devotion to family was multi-generational and expanded to cousins beyond count. He was proud to have found and married Sally Rose Ramsey, with whom he had three children: Kevin, Jimmy, and Rosemary. Many have said Jim was lucky to have been loved by two extraordinary women. After Sally’s death, Jim was set up on a blind date with Mary Stewart Brumley. They married in 1994 and beautifully united their two families and grown children, Marion Singleton, Carla Brown, and Jonny Brumley. Jim bragged endlessly about their 14 grandchildren and was truly happy anytime he was in Mary Stewart’s presence. They had a shared laughter and joy that was inspirational and contagious—an example for us all.

Fiercely proud of his small town and East Texas origins, Jim embraced big city life as a resident of Dallas for nearly 60 years. Jim graduated from Kilgore High School in 1956 and cut his teeth playing competitive golf on the Barbecue Circuit around Texas. By the time he arrived at The University of Texas at Austin, he had built a robust network of fellow golfers who would be friends for life. As the first in his family to go to college, Jim always credited the game of golf with helping him move ahead in life. The golf course was his church and his therapy, and also his networking platform. Graduating from The University of Texas in 1960, Jim moved to Dallas to pursue a law degree at SMU. While Jim was in law school, he worked for Dallas attorney Mr. Angus Wynne. He sat in Mr. Wynne’s office lobby for multiple days until Mr. Wynne finally agreed to hire him. His mentorship was formative and enduring to Jim’s law career. After law school, Jim worked as a Prosecutor in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Together with friends from law school and college, Jim went into private practice and formed the law firm Crutcher, Hull, Ramsey & Jordan which would later merge with Hughes & Luce LLP. While he enjoyed his work as a litigator, he equally loved recruiting and mentoring young lawyers — interested as much in their academic pedigree as in cultivating their outside interests. He gathered a fun crew of colleagues around him, and he never stopped telling stories about his lawyering days.

A born extrovert, Jim was gregarious and loved being the life of the party, easily delivering witty one-liners and outrageous zingers. When friends gathered, the first invitation always went to Jim Ramsey. No passion of Jim’s matched that which he had for family and friends. He was loyal, devoted, attentive, caring and protective, and he taught his family to love in the same manner. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and often saw things with an uncompromising sense of integrity. With the guidance of Sally and Mary Stewart, he was always growing, becoming ever more sensitive and compassionate. Jim is survived by his wife of 29 years, Mary Stewart Ramsey; Children: Jimmy Ramsey, Rosemary & Matt Stewart, Marion & Steve Singleton, Carla & Tom Brown, Lori & Jonny Brumley; Daughter-in-law Caroline Ramsey; Grandchildren: Siena, Max, Kieran, and Sebastian Ramsey; Mary Elizabeth and Ramsey Stewart; Jake and Thomas Singleton; Hunter, Cormac, and Francesca Brown; Will, Anna Brittan, and Mariel Brumley; his favorite brother, Cullen Ramsey, his favorite Goddaughter Claire Ratliff and the entire second family of the Ratliff clan; in-laws Pat Rose, Mary Gail and Richard Gary Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family is grateful for the loving, diligent care of Cecilia Weingaya, Laurine Odundo, Pamela Adhiambo, and the fun and friendly companionship of Lisa Joy and Brocka Nolen.

Jim will be thrilled to be reunited in heaven with many who have gone before him, most especially his darling son, Kevin, who died too soon in 2021. He’ll be bossed around by his first wife Sally and her best friend, Gay Ratliff who are surely planning a dinner party right now. He’ll sing songs and laugh with his sister-in-law, Susan Ramsey. He’ll delight in sharing stories with his parents, Mary and Sydney Ramsey. He’ll offer gratitude to his in-laws, Mary Pat & Llewellyn Rose. And he’ll shower compliments upon his mother-in-law, Virginia Thomas. He’ll certainly be sending cartoon clippings of love down to his beloved Mary Stewart.

Services will be held at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Friday, September 15, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Jim and Mary Stewart Ramsey Fund for Palliative Care Faculty Support at UT Southwestern Medical Center or the Jubilee Park and Community Center.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Ramsey family.