Joye Michelle (Smith) Ramirez

Joye Michelle Ramirez, 65, passed away surrounded by loved ones on December 18th, 2021 after a 4 year battle with pancreatic cancer. Joye was born on December 12th, 1956 to Noah and Lorrain Smith. After graduating from James Marshall High School she went on to study at Sacramento City College where she earned an Associates degree.

Joye started out working at a childcare center in West Sacramento which she enjoyed immensely. She began as a belt sorter at Blue Diamond Almond growers in 1976. She worked her way up to the Candy Kitchen and eventually to Department Lead before retiring in 2017 after 40 years to care for her grandchildren.

While working at Blue Diamond Joye met the love of her life and her greatest adventure, Al. They met in 1996 and were soon inseparable. They married in 2010 at a family backyard BBQ. For 25 years they worked, lived, retired and raised their children & grandchildren together.

While Joye’s greatest accomplishment was her 2 daughters and step daughter, Janeen Amanda, & Brook her purest happiness came from her 5 beautiful grandchildren. Joye and Al were thrilled to welcome their first grandchild, Ella (7), in 2014. Ian (4) & Zoe (4) followed close together in 2017. Ethan (3) came quickly after in 2018. Matthew (9 months) surprised them in 2021.

Although diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer and given an 8-12 month prognosis, Joye wasn’t giving up or giving in easily. She fought so hard and so valiantly for more time. She was able to visit Yellowstone with Al, her sister Johnnie, & her brother-in-law Perry. The four of them also got to visit Sedona & chase waterfalls in Oregon. Joye went on a bucket list trip to San Diego with all of her sisters, her daughters, & her niece. She visited Disneyland one last time and enjoyed countless camping trips in between.

Joye was a fighter right up until the very end. Her strength in battling her rare disease inspired many. Her will to live has given her family, especially her grandchildren, so many memories they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Through her valiant battle she taught us all to never give up and never give in. The hole left by her absence is impossible to fill.

We will never be the same. We will never stop missing her. We will from here forward live in her shining example of strength, love, and resilience. The pain we feel this very day will slowly ease over time but the mark she left on us never ever will. We all have the most incredible guardian angel to watch over us now.

Joye is predeceased by her parents, Lorrain and Noah, her brother, Charles, and her sister Charlotte. She is survived by her Husband, Al; Her 2 daughters, Janeen (Zac) Gredvig and Brook (Nick) Murray; Her stepdaughter, Amanda (Mathhew) Brown; Her five grandchildren, Ella Mae (7), Ian James (4), Zoe Dale (4), Ian Fox (3), Matthew Scott Noah (9 months); Her siblings, Jackie (Bernie) Valdez, Cary (Judy) Tommersaason, Patricia Plank, Johnnie (Perry) Pelz, Jodi (Bruce) Lish, & Joni Seeber; countless nieces & nephews

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.harryanauman.com for the Ramirez family.