Mary Jo Ramey

Mary Jo Blair Ramey, age 87, of Wharton, died December 29, 2014, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton, TX. Our MamaJo was born on July 17, 1927 in San Saba, TX, the daughter of the late Ed Blair, Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Towerton Blair. She later moved to the Wharton County area and graduated Valedictorian from Crescent High School where she was a cheerleader and participated in sports. She attended Lamar University, where she earned an Associates's degree and married our "Papaw" June 3, 1949 after a whirlwind courtship. She worked as a clerk at the hospital in New Gulf before working for Dr. Bunk and then going on to work and retire from Texas Gulf Sulphur Company in New Gulf, Texas as a secretary in the Quality Control Department. She was a devoted wife and mother and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. MamaJo also served as a Cub Scout leader in New Gulf. She was affectionately know as both "MamaJo" to her grandchildren and great grandchildren and "Aunt Jo" to her nieces and nephews. She loved her family dearly. MamaJo enjoyed cigarettes, scratch offs, cross word puzzles, and bingo and spent countless days in her kitchen having coffee with friends and family. Her kitchen was the heart of her home and was "the place" for everyone to gather and drink coffee and discuss everything. MamaJo always taught us to write thank you notes. Trust us, if you did not write a thank you note for a gift received, it was discussed in her kitchen. There was never a shortage of coffee, conversation, orange candy, or cookies in the police officer cookie jar. She enjoyed weekly trips to Wal-Mart followed by lunch at Dairy Queen with her sister Mozelle and brother-in-law Buddy. It was obvious that her and Aunt Mo shopped together by the matching denim shirts they loved to wear. She also enjoyed driving her minivan, sometimes with her turn signal on, sometimes not. She once said that she did not need to use a signal because everyone knew where she was turning. These memories will never be forgotten and no one other than Papaw and God loved her more than us. Visitation will be held Friday, January 2, 2015 starting at 10 am until 12 noon at St. John's Lutheran Church, 614 Pecan St. in Wharton. Services will be held following the visitation at 12 noon with Rev. Barry Sharp officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Wilbert Kalina, Jr., John Thomas Kalina, Michael Parker, Christopher Michael Parker, Augustus Garrette Kalina, Cpl. Josiah John Ramey and Bradley Bennetson. Honorary pallbearers will be Rudy Zabodyn, Alex Weid, Bob Blair, Ronnie Blair, Gary Blair, Kenny Blair and Lee Miller. In addition to her husband, John Wilborn Ramey and parents Ed Blair, Sr and Sarah Elizabeth Blair, her brothers, Ed Blair, Jr., Bill Blair, James Blair, and Thomas Blair, sisters Ruby, Mozelle Koehne, Shirley Zabodyn and Annette Wied preceded her in death. Survivors include her daughter Elizabeth Maxine Ramey Kalina and husband Wilbert of Boling, son, Rev. Dr. Mike Ramey and wife Laura of Claremont, NC, grandchildren Tiffy Mac Parker and husband Michael, Wilbert Wayne Kalina, Jr. and wife Alice, John Thomas Kalina and wife Melissa, Laura Elizabeth Teigue and husband Chris, Ana Lea Medders and husband Andy, Sarah Justina Ramey and fiance Tim Childers, and Cpl. Josiah John Ramey and wife Kaitlyn and great grandchildren Christopher Michael Parker and fiancee Chelcie, Augustus Garrette Kalina, Paiton Nicole Kalina, Jacob Thomas Kalina, Isabella Rose Kalina, William James Kalina, Colton Scott Medders, Raeha Faith Ramey and Calvin Michael Teigue. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141. Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangement under direction of Wharton Funeral Home.