Mary Kathryn (Rives) Ramsey Taylor departed this life peacefully Thursday, March 13, 2008 at her home in Greenville, Texas after a lengthy battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born August 25, 1921 in Laredo, Texas, one of five children of William Ashton and Elizabeth Mae Rives. Upon graduation from Martin High School in Laredo, she worked for the Laredo Chamber of Commerce. As a Chamber of Commerce hostess at a gathering benefiting the Army troops stationed at Fort McIntosh in Laredo, she met a young officer, Joe Ramsey, and the rest is history. They were married at Christ Church Episcopal in Laredo on March 26, 1942.
Two children, Steve and Jody, were born in Laredo, and in 1947 they moved to Greenville, Texas where Joe opened an office representing the L. G. Balfour and Taylor Publishing Cos. A third child, Ginna, was born in Greenville in 1954.
Supporting her husband by entertaining scores of business associates in her home and at the lake house on Lake Texoma, she was a consummate hostess, always making everyone feel comfortable and at ease in her presence. Kay was active in the Altar Guild at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, a volunteer Pink Lady at the local hospital, and a member of the Dirt Daubers Garden Club. She was a wonderful, patient, generous, and loving mother and grandmother with a sense of humor that knew no bounds.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Joe, in 1983; her parents, Ashton and Leah; her beloved sister, Virgina (Ginna) Link of Laredo; her brother, Charles (Chick) Rives of Kerrville; her brother, Sam Rives of Forney; and her second husband, Bill Taylor of Dallas in 2002.
She is survived by her brother, Bill Rives & wife Nell of Marble Hill, MO; her son, Steve Ramsey and his wife, Mary of Greenville; her son, Joe Ramsey, Jr. and his wife, Olivia of Fredericksburg; and daughter Ginna Stratton and her husband, Gene of Oatmeal, Tx.
Also, surviving are her seven grandchildren, Emily Acker and husband, Brian; Heidi Krell and husband, Eric; Matthew Ramsey and wife, Alyssa; Kelly Ramsey Zuniga and husband, Miles; Joe L. Ramsey III and wife, Misty; Stephen Ramsey; and Katherine Ramsey; and ten great-grandchildren and a bounty of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Mrs. Ramsey will be held on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 2:00 PM at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with Father Gary Herbst officiating.
Family requests memorials be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville or
The Alzeimers’ Association.
