Lola Mae Ramey

Lola Ramey was born on December 21, 1936, in Tillamook, Oregon, and lived on the family dairy near Nehalem until age 11. She then moved with her family to a ranch in Eastern Oregon, where she was one of two sixth graders at Suntex, a two-room school. The following year, the family relocated to Bend, where she attended seventh grade, and then moved to Modesto, California, where she completed grades 8 through 12.

After high school, she worked for Pacific Tel and Tel for about a year before returning to Oregon to attend Northwest Christian College in Eugene. After completing two years of college courses, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she worked for various businesses until 1971, when she moved to Denver, Colorado, for a job in judicial education.

In 1975, she was recruited to work in the same field in Berkeley, California. In 1976, she accepted an offer to return to Oregon to continue her work in judicial education in Salem. She later worked for the Oregon Legislative Assembly for four sessions and, between sessions, held positions in traffic safety, real estate, and the State Banking Division.

Lola moved to Portland in 1988, where she worked for Standard Insurance Company until her retirement in 2000. Throughout her working years, she continued to educate herself by taking classes at state, community, and business colleges. She held titles such as secretary, executive assistant, programs assistant, legislative aide, executive secretary, and administrative assistant. She also earned a Certified Professional Secretary designation from the International Association of Administrative Professionals, which required passing college-level courses in business.

Lola's hobbies included gardening, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and travel. After retirement, she cruised to Southeast Alaska and flew to Hawaii, Italy, and the Holy Lands. She enjoyed snow skiing, canoeing, 10-mile downhill bicycling events, camping, and helicopter sightseeing. She once survived a two-day rafting trip down the Deschutes River in Central Oregon when her raft got stuck in the middle of White Horse Rapids.

She also loved attending family reunions, socializing with friends, going to concerts, movies, and plays, and walking her rescue dogs. While living in Denver, Lola auditioned for and was accepted into the Denver Concert Chorale. She participated in many rehearsals and concerts while also working full-time and attending night classes at Metropolitan State College.

Lola married Robert Lee Jeffery in 1966; they divorced in 1971. She had no children but leaves behind two nephews in California, a great-nephew and great-nieces in California, and numerous cousins in Texas and Washington state.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Ramey; her mother, Viola Brahm; her sister, Lois McIntosh; and two brothers, Wayne and Keith Ramey.

Visitation will be held in the vestibule at 11:00 AM, followed by the Rosary in the sanctuary from 11:20 to 11:50 AM for those who wish to attend. The Funeral Mass celebrating Lola’s life will begin at 12:00 PM on Thursday, November 6th, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon. Lola will be laid to rest in a private family graveside service at Nehalem American Legion Cemetery in Nehalem, Oregon.

For those wishing to send flowers, please contact Marina’s Flowers at 971-570-3524 or visit MarinaFlowersPDX.com. Coordinating through Marina’s will help ensure timely delivery and allow arrangements to complement the family’s chosen floral colors.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), the American Red Cross, the Oregon Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.