Home > United States of America > Iowa > Story County > Ames > Iowa State University Cemetery > Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey

Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey

View larger map

1 / 6

2 / 6

3 / 6

4 / 6

5 / 6

6 / 6

❮ ❯

Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey

Birth	:	29 Oct 1910 Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	21 Jul 2002 Ames, Story County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Iowa State University Cemetery, Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0306000, -93.6539000
Plot	:	E1
Description	:	Beatrice Joyce Woodford Ramsey was born October 29, 1910 in Sergeant Bluff, IA, to Homer Woodford and Nina Prescott Woodford. She graduated from Sergeant Bluff High School in 1928 and received a BA in Music Education with a minor in English from Morningside College in 1932. She taught music in Stratford, SD, Mondamin, Milford Township, Huxley and Ames, IA. She married Frank Kenneth Ramsey on August 4, 1936 in her parent's home in Sergeant Bluff, IA. Joyce was a member of PEO, Faculty Women's Club, Collegiate United Methodist Church, bell choir, Bible studies, and other organizations. She spent many hours... Read More	Beatrice Joyce Woodford Ramsey was born October 29, 1910 in Sergeant Bluff, IA, to Homer Woodford and Nina Prescott Woodford. She graduated from Sergeant Bluff High School in 1928 and received a BA in Music Education with a minor in English from Morningside College in 1932. She taught music in Stratford, SD, Mondamin, Milford Township, Huxley and Ames, IA. She married Frank Kenneth Ramsey on August 4, 1936 in her parent's home in Sergeant Bluff, IA. Joyce was a member of PEO, Faculty Women's Club, Collegiate United Methodist Church, bell choir, Bible studies, and other organizations. She spent many hours volunteering, directing church choirs, den mother for cub scouts, leading singing at the senior center, helping at Edward School, planting in Reiman Gardens and various other endeavors. She was the mother to 4 children - Gerald, Richard, Homer, and Janet. Message given at Joyce Ramsey's funeral by Janet Durlam, her daughter, on 7/26/02. G will mean Grandma (Joyce). What a privilege it is to stand up here and be given the opportunity to tell a captive audience about my mother. I'll warn you, I'm a teacher and brevity is not one of my strong points. My comments are directed toward the grandchildren, but all of you will have to listen. I expect you to pay attention but you won't have to pass a test before you leave. I saw G as a doer. She hated being idle. She did not like to sit unless she was doing something with her hands or perhaps reading. She watched very little TV and weather permitting would rather be outside than in. She loved the sunlight and always had the curtains open the minute the sun came up in the morning. She loved to hike, camp an convene with nature. While outside flowers and gardening were one of her passions. She got the most beautiful things to grow from the soil under her loving hands. Weeds were despised and annihilated. Dead blossoms and leaves were immediately plucked from vegetation. Her gardens weren't designed to be formal but were planted so when you gazed at them you saw beauty and felt a sense of joy. She loved wildflowers and this caused a source of conflict between her and your grandfather. When they bloomed in the early spring the grass also grew. Grandpa wanted to mow and G wanted to enjoy. Hosta grew at their home on State Street lining the driveway and down the hill long before mot people had ever heard of it. Raspberries and vegetable gardens also graced the yard. Around G you heard complaints that her vegetable garden looked awful and everything was dying, but compared to anyone else's hers was a lush paradise. She loathed it when the summers became dry and the rain didn't come. Depression would set in. She loved and fed birds, but had some prejudice in this area. She knew all their calls. She preferred the songbirds and would chase the other away from her feeders. I suppose her love for good music influenced this in some way. G had a beautiful voice and usually harmonized when singing. She played the violin, piano and could accompany almost anyone. These gifts she used whenever she could – on Christmas Eve singing carols with the family, directing church choirs, leading singing at the senior citizen center, playing in the bell choir, and I'm sure other places of which I'm not aware. My friends while growing up loved having her as a choir director. Some of her comments have stayed with them and she made singing and music fun. Her love of music and children led to her profession and interest in teaching music. Even in her later years she smiled the most when young children were around. She must have been a wonderful teacher or she wouldn't have been invited to class reunions, receiving an invitation to one just a month ago. She was interested in all kinds of musical instruments and loved using instruments from foreign countries to help her teach about other cultures and their music. On her many trips around the world she looked for unusual instruments. Traveling was a passion. During her life she to visit family, friends, and other countries. She sojourned to all 50 states, Copenhagen, Dublin, Germany, Scotland, Israel, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, East and West Berlin before the wall was torn down, Russia, Norway, Kenya, Egypt, Columbia, England, Nigeria, Mexico City, Acapulco, New Zealand and Australia. She was an independent woman and wasn't afraid to do things on her own. While traveling she would venture out in a foreign country where she didn't speak the language, watch the streets for children and then follow them to their schools. There she would find someone who could speak or understand a little English or sign language, and ask if she could stay and visit where she would delight in observing children singing or doing lessons. She always seemed happy to return home to her family. Family was very important to her. She didn't miss a Thanksgiving with her beloved sisters and relatives. This was the time I heard your G laugh the most. I am told by her friends and even my own friends that G was witty and funny. I didn't see this side of her until the last few years, but I remember the laughter when being with her family. Time was not to be spent with loved ones sitting and doing nothing, it was to be spent cooking, talking, playing games, or reading to children. Books were what she loved to give as gifts. She had a special place for toys in her home and would sit on the floor and play hours on end with you when you were there. She also enjoyed playing games with her own friends, especially bridge. New Year's Eve the party was usually at her house where bridge was played and laughter was heard all hours of the night. G made friends where ever she went. In each stage of her life new friends would enter. When she was a young girl G told me she lived on a farm and hated having to ride the bus home and miss the socializing after school, so she would sometimes miss the bus and walk the mile and a half home. G could be a little self centered, stubborn, and lay the guilt on. She was also feisty and gutsy – I hope each of you have a small part of that in you. It wasn't always easy for her to show outwardly how deeply she loved people, but you gave her the opportunity to express her feelings more fully. She had wonderful manners, which she kept until the day she died. From her you learned the joy of partaking in delicious meals served with beauty and elegance. Seasonal arrangements and fresh flowers were always arranged around the house and on her dining room table. The table was set with a tablecloth and everything was served in a serving dish, no pots and pans on the table at G's house. As one who had to do the dishes, I didn't always appreciate this aspect of G. She was a wonderful cook, loved trying new recipes and when you dined at her house you always enjoyed a salad, meat, potato or rice, bread, vegetable, pickles for Grandpa, and the best part – dessert. Oh those wonderful desserts. It's how she got us all to eat the healthy food she prepared because no dessert was served until that was gone. She loved ice cream, even had home-made ice cream at her wedding. Various pints of various flavors were always waiting in her freezer to be eaten with homemade cookies or fresh fruit. When times were hard she could take a small amount of food and make a feast out of it. Things were neat and tidy around G with every piece of lint picked up off the floor before she could sit and relax. G was from a very educated family especially for the time. She had an aunt that was a professor at Morningside College and she and all her sisters graduated from college. Education was important. G and Grandpa met when they were both teaching in Stratford, SD in 1932. She was teaching English, Latin and music, Gpa was teaching 5th-8th grade. G told me she thought Gpa was the handsomest man she'd ever seen. Your G's mother had G's and Gpa's handwriting analyzed before they were married to see if they were a suitable match. I am going to quote what G's handwriting told about her: The young ladies handwriting indicates more or less self consciousness and self centered disposition. She is apt to keep her real affections under control. She possesses a fine mentality. Emotionally speaking she is apt to be modish; that is, her had and heart are often at a turmoil. She can be very positive and insistent in her demands. Frank should be a very fine balance wheel in her life, and I hope that should these two ever become husband and wife, that he will use a great deal of foresight and patience. Together they enjoyed and endured 55 years of marriage. G was very thoughtful. She sent notes and letters often. Enclosed checks were so appreciated by her children. These didn't just come on expected holidays but would arrive when we really needed them. It was often the reason you had new clothes for school and Easter. Faith was a big part of G's every day life, church was important and not to be missed. When we went camping we always found a park service to attend. Although your G had dementia, we would all be blessed if we could become the gregarious, interesting, social, well-loved little old lady she became. Her spirit was wonderful and loved throughout the Healthcare Center at Northcrest. Her final year, although hard on us, were years where she was loved outwardly around the clock by the Northcrest family of caregivers. She could be cantankerous with them, but she was handled with care. They were there for her and loved her for who she was. What a blessing! I hope you felt G's love and find some of her qualities in yourself.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey's memorial?
Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey's memorial is located at: Iowa State University Cemetery, Ames, Story County, USA.
When did Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey death?
Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey death on 21 Jul 2002 in Ames, Story County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Joyce Beatrice Woodford Ramsey's memorial?
Latitude: 42.0306000
Longitude: -93.6539000

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Frank K. Ramsey

(1910 - 1992)

Siblings

Pearl Woodford Nelson

(1914 - 2001)

Doris Prescott Woodford Nash

(1917 - 2010)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Iowa State University Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0306000, -93.6539000

2. Collegiate Presbyterian Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0248290, -93.6547490

3. Collegiate United Methodist Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0226200, -93.6522400

4. Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0224100, -93.6481040

5. Saint Andrews Lutheran Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0241830, -93.6636190

6. Saint Thomas Aquinas Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0224370, -93.6450840

7. Ontario Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0286217, -93.6781387

8. First Christian Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0270500, -93.6174100

9. Ames Municipal Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0301208, -93.6061249

10. Story Memorial Gardens
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9933014, -93.6112976

11. Bloomington Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0466573, -93.5852182

12. Olive Branch Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0080986, -93.7369003

13. McMichael Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0852203, -93.5915833

14. Arrasmith Cemetery
Franklin Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0855600, -93.5913900

15. Kelley Community Cemetery
Kelley, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9496000, -93.6582000

16. Gilbert Cemetery
Gilbert, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1135063, -93.6402512

17. Bethany Cemetery
Kelley, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9366989, -93.6594009

18. Walnut Grove Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9468994, -93.5903015

19. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1063740, -93.5614370

20. Born Cemetery
Franklin Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1222277, -93.5905220

21. South Saint Petri Cemetery
Gilbert, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1369019, -93.6331024

22. Baldus Cemetery
Lafayette Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1369000, -93.6067000

23. Lincoln Cemetery
Cambridge, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9235992, -93.6097031

24. Clark Cemetery
Luther, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9623146, -93.7752838