Artis Maxine Ramey

Artis was born on December 22, 1928 in Red Cloud, Nebraska, to Harvey and Blanche Stevens. She, her sister and three brothers grew up on a farm near there and Artis attended Hastings College in Nebraska, graduating in 1952. She met her husband, Griff Ramey in college and they were married in 1954. They moved to Sterling, Colorado and started a family, moving again to Arizona in 1962. Artis spent the majority of her working years teaching elementary school, starting in a one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska shortly after college. She took great pride in helping teach young people to read and write. She retired from teaching in Maricopa, Arizona in 1990. She was an active volunteer for Arizona Blood Services in Mesa, Arizona for many years, receiving recognition for her work and time spent there along with her own regular blood donations.

Artis is survived by her husband of 71 years, Griffith D. Ramey; her children, Beth Ramey (husband Keith Kealey), Marla Butts (husband Orville Lee Butts) and Brian Ramey (wife Brenda Ramey); grandchildren Christopher Loeffler (wife Olivia Loeffler), Sara Trevino (husband Sal), and Taylor Teixeira (husband George); and four great-grandchildren, Genevieve, Raymee, Jack and Zen.

Artis was loved by everyone who knew her, as she was caring, attentive and accepting of others. She was humble and kind and truly believed in and looked for the good in everyone.