Jane Aldyth Ramsey

Jane Aldyth Ramsey, 94, of Scottsbluff, died peacefully at the home of her son, Dan Ramsey, on Thursday May 17, 2012. A celebration of her life will be held on her birthday, June 22nd for friends and family. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Prairie Haven Hospice of Scottsbluff. . Jane was born June 22, 1917 in Scottsbluff to Neal and Lois Barbour. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nebraska in 1938. She married John Howell in 1939 and lived in Bethesda, Maryland where she worked as a reporter at the Bethesda Journal. She returned to Scottsbluff during WW II and was joined by John Howell at the end of the war. John was struck by lightning and killed on June 28, 1946. In 1947 she married Dan Ramsey, Sr. In addition to raising four children, Jane returned to college in 1967 with a Chancellor’s Scholarship. She then taught English and Journalism at Scottsbluff High School which she felt was her true profession. She helped her husband Dan transform the Emery Hotel into the Town House and established “The Soup Kettle” restaurant which she ran for 7 years. In 1979 she and Dan retired to Estes Park, Colorado. There she volunteered at the library, museum, Art Gallery, Ambassadors, and Crossroads. She was a member of League of Women Voters, PEO, AAUW, Western Writers of America, Delta Gamma Sorority, Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Presbyterian Church where she was a Stephen Minister and an Elder. Her personal endeavors indlude writing two books on the history of Scotts Bluff County and establishment of Scottsbluff, as well as a book on the Artists of Estes Park. She also wrote magazine articles and poetry. Jane enjoyed hiking, she was an avid reader, and always loved learning new things. She also loved the outdoors and watching wildlife. Family and friends were an important part of her life. Survivors include her sons, John Howell Ramsey of San Pedro, CA, Dan (Pat) Ramsey, Jr, daughter Jane Moran, grandchildren Christie (Markus Groner) Moran, Jim Ramsey, Kethera Moran, Sarah (Lee) Pinet, and Bill (Heather) Ramsey; brother Bill (Lil) Barbour and 6 great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husbands John Searl Howell, Daniel Cook Ramsey, Sr. and her daughter Susan Howell Murphy.