Obituary: Ramsey, James

RAMSEY, James

James Allen Ramsey of Fort Bragg and Santa Rosa, California, passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at the age of 86.

A native of Spokane, Washington, Jim and his wife Frances moved to Fort Bragg in 1974 to work in the home offices of Georgia Pacific.

While keeping the Fort Bragg home that they had built, they moved to an apartment in Santa Rosa in the fall of 2008.
Jim was an alumnus of Washington State University (class of ‘48) and avidly followed their football team and other University news.

During college he joined the Merchant Marines for service in World War II.

After college he began a career of over 60 years in the lumber industry beginning with Weyerhaeuser, later joining Fort Bragg California’s Union Lumber (Georgia Pacific) as a salesman in Chicago area, and after retirement remained active as a valued member of Windsor Mill in Windsor, California.
He loved traveling all over the countryside.

He particularly enjoyed trips to visit family in the Spokane area and San Francisco Bay Area, to see colleagues at lumber events, and to hear Dixieland jazz.

His love of golf encouraged his son Kevin’s playing and eventual career in golf course design.

On a nearly daily basis, card games were a passion with his friends and neighbors in Fort Bragg and new friends in Santa Rosa.
Jim is survived by his wife, Frances; son Kevin Ramsey and wife Amy; granddaughter Hailey Ramsey; and daughter Jennifer Ramsey.

Preceded in death by his brother Glen Ramsey of Rockford, Washington, he was still very close to Glen’s family: sister-in-law Margie Ramsey, nephews Chris and Roy Ramsey both of Rockford, niece Carolyn Ramsey Brain of San Diego and all of their children and grandchildren.

Frances’ family, the Beales and the Watters, were also an important part of his life.

Jim considered all of his friends and business associates part of his extended family.
The family would like to thank the Assisted Living Staff at the Lodge at Paulin Creek, Santa Rosa for their wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory will be welcomed by Mendocino Coast Humane Society and Heartland Hospice in Santa Rosa.

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.