Obituary of Mary Frances Carroll Ramsey

Mary Frances Carroll Ramsey, 87 died Monday, February 19, 2007, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City. Mary was born September 11, 1919, in St. Paul,Minnesota, Ramsey County, the daughter of Josiah Francis and Charlotte Fox Carroll. Growing up in Spencer, Iowa, she graduated from Spencer High School in 1938 as the senior class president. While at the State University of Iowa she received her Bachelor of Science and Commerce Degrees in 1942 and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She married James Cheever Ramsey, Jr. D.D.S., on November 2, 1942, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lake Forest, IL. The couple resided in Audubon where Dr. Ramsey had his dental practice. Here they were members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Upon Dr. Ramsey's retirement in 1982, they moved to Iowa City, where they have been members of St.Thomas More Catholic Church. Since 1952 the couple and their families have spent summers at Lake Okoboji. Mary Frances was articulate, generous, with an elegant strength about her. She was an avid reader of The New Yorker, Town and Country, espionage mysteries, and especially fond of biographies. A walking dictionary, she could always be counted on for the definition of any word. She was outgoing, kind to all, and comfortable in any social setting. She was a docent at the University Museum of Art and member of the University of Iowa Library Board, N.N. Book Club, P.E.O., Okoboji Yacht Club. During George H.P. Bush’s Administration she was appointed by the Governor to the Judicial Nominating Committee. Her weekly bridge game was a great joy. She treasured and actively maintained many life-long friendships. She could readily see humor in a situation and laugh at herself. Her family includes her loving husband Jim; son John Ramsey M.D. (Mindy) of Salt Lake City, UT; daughter Elizabeth Ramsey D.D.S. of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren Matt Ramsey M.D. (Erika) of Philadelphia, PA, Libby Ramsey Kelly M.D. (Brian) of Salt Lake City, UT, Joe Fricton of St. Paul, MN, Tom Fricton of Minneapolis/Japan; great grandchildren Ellen and Noah Ramsey, Avery Kelly, brother John Carroll of Denver, CO, cousin Mary Witt of Bethesda, MD, cousin Joe Carroll of Spencer, IA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Jimmy Ramsey (1943-1954), and daughter Molly Ramsey (1950-1971).