Jill King Ramey

Jill King Ramey peacefully entered into the eternal glory of Jesus on April 26, 2024, surrounded by her family. Jill was born on March 19, 1931, in Atlanta, Texas and was the daughter of Henry Robertson King and Felice Martin King. In 1940, the family moved to Tyler. She attended Gary Elementary, Hogg Junior High, and Tyler High School from which she graduated in 1948. As an 11 year old girl, while she was drying dishes on a sunny Sunday afternoon, she remembered hearing the radio broadcast of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. World War 2 made a profound lifelong impact on her. Life revolved around buying U.S. Savings Bonds to help the war effort, rolling bandages for the Red Cross at The Women's Building on Broadway, and attending Saturday movies at the Tyler theater where entrance required items that would help the war effort. Life was enriched by visiting children of the soldiers who were stationed at Camp Fannin plus doing anything to support the war effort as her brother, Jack, was stationed in the South Pacific. Jill attended Hockaday Junior College in Dallas and the University of Texas at Austin where she was a proud member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1951, she married the love of her life, Thomas Boyd Ramey, Jr. They were married for 63 years. Their children are Thomas Boyd Ramey, III, Henry King Ramey, and Claire Ramey Turner. Their spouses are Gina Ramey, Lynn Ramey, and Terry Turner. She greatly loved them all. Her grandchildren are Grace Ramey Cryer, Laura Ramey Fine, Archer King Ramey, and Joy Ramey Mace. Her great-grandchildren are Cordelia Louise Cryer, Charles Townsend Cryer, and Florence Ramey Fine, and great nephew Hartley Flath. Mrs. Ramey was Queen of The Texas Rose Festival in 1950 and for over 50 years she passionately entertained and informed people with the origins and history of the Texas Rose Festival with the goal to promote the city she so deeply loved, Tyler. She loved to say, "Roses have been good to Tyler and Tyler has been good for roses." She was a founding member of The Tyler Rose Museum, President of the Junior League of Tyler and the Tyler Junior Garden Club. In the late 1950s, she had a life changing encounter with the risen Jesus that forever changed her life. From this moment, her great life passion was communicating the love and grace and hope of Jesus to others. For decades, she enthusiastically taught the high school senior class at Marvin Methodist Church. A class with only a handful of members exploded in size as she poured out her life creatively communicating the incalculable truths of God's Word. The popularity of this class soon included scores of high school kids coming to her home on almost a daily basis to be encouraged in their personal journey with Jesus. Outside of her family, this was her great love. Over the decades, she also taught countless Sunday School classes and Bible studies. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Ramey, Jr., her parents, her beloved brother, Jack Martin King, and sister-in-law, Bette Huff King. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. David Nichols, Dr. Homer Don Smith, Andy Swann, Todd Swann, Elam Swann, Chris Woldert, Tom Woldert, Whit Riter, Bill McCain, Jim McCain, Bert McCain, Chris Simons, Tim Brookshire, Britt Brookshire, Brad Brookshire, Mark Brookshire, Kirk Brookshire, Michael Jones, Jay Ward, Ross Murphy, Randy Murphy, Dr. John Hudnall, George Pearson, Henry Bell, Allen Bell, Smith Reynolds, Trey Yarbrough, Jim Gillen, Randy Key, Denning Key, Michael Jones, Jimmy Miller, and Brad Harvey. A celebration of her earthly life will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 2:00 at Marvin Methodist Church followed by a reception/visitation at the church. A private family graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family is most thankful for Jill’s many caregivers over the years. In particular, we are forever grateful for the many years of care and nurturing by Brenda Rodriquez. In lieu of flowers, Jill asked that donations be considered for Marvin Methodist Church, https://Marvin.Church, 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, TX 75702; or Young Life Tyler, https://tyler.younglife.org, P.O. Box 7763, Tyler, TX 75711; or the charity of your choice. The family is extraordinarily thankful for your expressions of grace and kindness.

Jill King Ramey

March 19, 1931 - April 26, 2024