Mildred "Millie" Eleanor Beam Ramey's Obituary
Mildred E. Beam Ramey (Millie) passed away Saturday, May 30, 2015 of natural causes at Harbor Chase of Gainesville in Gainesville, FL. Her husband of 71 years, Robert Ancel Ramey, Jr. (Bob), passed away at the same facility on March 7, 2015.
She was a wife, mother, and homemaker. She loved wildlife, gardening, quilting, and world travel.
Millie was born in Franklin, Indiana to Ralph and Mabel (Forsyth) Beam February 29, 1920. Being born in a leap year was a reason for joking about how young she was, just counting the birthdays, for all of her long life. She graduated from Franklin High School and attended the Art School of The University of Cincinnati, graduating with honors on April 9, 1943. One day after graduating she married Bob Ramey. After Bob received his PhD at the University of Cincinnati, they moved to Boston for his career, then to Pittsburgh, and Monroeville, PA before moving to Gainesville in 1966.
Over the years she belonged to many clubs and organizations in each city in which she lived. In Gainesville, she was a founding member of the Christian Science Church (now Society) of Gainesville, the Gainesville Flower Club, D.A.R., National Audubon Society, Red Hatter’s of Gainesville, Suwannee Valley Quilt Club, and the National Quilt Society.
She capitalized on her art and design education by designing and overseeing renovations to each home they owned. Her most unique and picturesque design and construction management accomplishment was “the Round House” in Gainesville which is still a landmark in the Timiquana Valley nature preserve and development of Gainesville.
Preceding her in passing was her Father: Ralph Beam; Mother: Mabel (Forsyth) Beam; Husband: Dr. Robert A. Ramey, Jr.; Daughter: Dr. Karen Ramey Burns; Son-in-Law: Dr. Lawrence Burns, and Sister: Mary E. Cadieux.
Millie is survived by her grandchildren: Tasha Snedaker of Austin, TX.; Lara Burns Haynes (Sven) of Salt Lake City, UT.; Alexander Burns of Groton, CT.; great-grandchildren: Ava Burns LaPerle and Armin Burns Haynes of Salt Lake City, UT.; niece: Bonnie M. Johnson of New Whiteland, IN., and nephew: Charles T. Cadieux (Sue) of Irvine, CA. Her tremendous generosity, energy and organizational skills were invaluable assets to every community in which she lived, and they will be sorely missed by all whom she knew, her family and friends.
A celebration of life service for family and friends of both Mildred and Robert is being planned for Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 3:00 PM at the WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street, Gainesville. A confirmation announcement will be published in the Gainesville Sun as the service date approaches.
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