Dorothy Ramsay

Born in Jeannette, PA on October 2, 1921

Departed on January 22, 2019 and resided in Nashville, Tennessee

Visitation: Harpeth Hills Funeral Home & Cremation Center Room: State Room AThursday January 24, 2019 5:00pm to 8:00pmFriday January 25, 2019 1:30pm to 2:30pmCelebration of Life: Harpeth Hills Funeral Home & Cremation Center Room: ChapelFriday January 25, 2019 2:30pm

Dorothy L. Ramsay, passed away January 22, 2019 with her daughter and pastor at her side. Dorothy was born October 2, 1921 in Jeannette, PA and was preceded in death by her husband, Donald A. Ramsay, Sr. in 1995 and her son, Donald A. Ramsay, Jr. in 1969. She was the daughter of Grace and Chalmers Downing and had two sisters, Ruth and Thelma, who are all deceased. She is survived by her daughter, Beth A. Campbell (Landy), three grandchildren, two great grandchildren and two great great grandsons.

Dorothy was a member of Belle Meade United Methodist Church and was receiving pastoral care from Bellevue United Methodist Church where her daughter and family are members. She is remembered for her sweet soft spirit and kind heart. She worked at the United Methodist Publishing House and later for the State of Tennessee as a Vocational Rehabilitation Secretary. She was a homemaker for many years and loved to crochet, knit, cook delicious meals for her family and was an avid reader. She was loved by many and the family is thankful for the care and kindness shown NHC Place at the Trace, Waypoint Memory Care the past 2 1/2 years. The family feels truly blessed to have Caris Hospice for their care and kindness during the past several months. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her.

Visitation at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home begins Thursday from 5-8pm and again on Friday from 1:30-2:30pm with a Celebration of Life beginning at 2:30pm. Pallbearers include Landy Campbell, Ronnie Campbell, Rex Campbell, Roger Campbell, and Chris Maxim.

Mom

So many that knew my mom, remember her as a gentle kind sweet lady with a soft little voice, and many times you had to ask her to speak up. Dorothy, or Dot, as her friends called her, had two sisters, Ruth and Thelma . Her mom and dad, Grace and Chalmers Downing lived in Latrobe, PA, but later moved to Jeannette, PA, where my mother was born.

We were a small family, with just my mom, dad and my brother, Donny. Mom saved all the cards and letters that she and daddy exchanged over the years and they were so in love. He called her "his pretty little girl". Mom was a homemaker for many years, and sewed, knitted, crocheted and tried out new recipes. Back in the 1950's, when mom would crochet a doily with the big ruffles, she would starch it to make the ruffles stand up as that was the style of the day. We didn't have much money when I was growing up and Mom had to make do with what we had. One thing she used to do and did for many years after, was to use the wax liner from cereal boxes to roll out her pie dough, because of its waxy finish and therefore the pie dough would not stick.

We moved quite a bit while I was growing up because my dad's profession as an engineer, forced him to go where the jobs were. Pennsylvania, Virginia, back to PA, Birmingham, AL, Cassville and St. Louis, MO, Gulfport and St. Pete, FL, and finally to Nashville in 1962, so we got to see many sights as we moved from place to place. Daddy worked for the State Highway Department and Mom worked for Victor Temporaries doing inventory for Cain Sloan, Castner Knotts and other retail when she was needed, she then worked for the United Methodist Publishing House, and later at the Department of Vocational Rehab as a secretary for the State of TN. After my brother's sudden death in 1969 from a car accident, mom was so heartbroken, she quit work and immersed herself in her homemaking once again. Mom was an enormous help over the years babysitting our children during Keith's serious illness as a baby, and then any time we planned an evening out or they wanted to take Kellie or Ronnie with them on a trip to PA or road trips in TN. She and my dad, loved their grandchildren and were always ready to have them visit. From the many letters she had written to her mother over the years that she had saved and which I now have, it could be a demanding job with 3 children under the age of 6, but I cherish all those letters and reading about some of the antics that went on with my energetic little ones! Mom made a beautiful baby shawl for each baby and Kellie carried her "blankey" around with her until I was worried it would end up going with her to school when the time came! Mom always had a crochet hook and a ball of yarn in her lap. She was either making something for her family, or for her church bazaar at Belle Meade Methodist Church. She was very active in her women's circle and I have enjoyed reading about the many things she created to help raise funds for her circle group.

Mom was an avid reader and loved mysteries and historical books. She kept a journal of all the books she read over the years and it was quite long. Mom was also a wonderful cook and we had so many delicious meals she prepared and it became a family tradition to have dinner on Sundays at her home and I have tried to carry on that tradition and returned the favor to her and my dad many times over the years. I take comfort in her letters to her mother, as she complimented my me on some of the delicious meals I prepared - No doubt a result of her teaching me how to cook. Mom always welcomed our distant relatives and her and daddy's friends into her home for a good home cooked meal or a delicious dessert . When I called my cousin to tell her of mom's passing, she told me much she loved going to visit my mother, as it always felt like home to her. Her mother, my mom's sister, died when my cousin was very young and I know how comforting mom's home felt to all of us. Mom always wanted to contribute to a meal and even as recent as last Thanksgiving, when I told her we were having her over for dinner, she asked "What can I bring?" I told her to just bring herself, but she always wanted to do something, even though her health wouldn't have permitted. Sadly, that was the last time mom got to visit in our home. She became too ill to join us at Christmas as I had planned.

I have hundreds of letters she and her mother wrote to each other over the years, from the time we moved from PA until her mother's death in 1986 These letters are so precious and are much like a diary of our day-to-day life at the time, as well as the current news at the time. One of Grandma's letters to mom, had a penciled note on top "Vote Ike" . I have saved many of the letters and enjoy rereading some of them and love to relive these memories again

Mom had a sweet innocence about her. Once as she was driving out of our driveway after dinner on a Sunday evening (of course) she applied her left blinker. I don't know who she thought was following her out of our driveway, but it was so funny at the time. When she lived in her apartment in Bellevue, I was helping her put her laundry away and remarked, "Mom, I didn't fold your panties when I put them away." she piped up, "Oh I never do that, life's too short." She was about 91 at the time. Before Fitbit and the other trackers became popular, I gave her a pedometer. One evening after she had grocery shopped I asked her if she had worn her pedometer. She said, "I put it in my purse!" I explained it was to be used for her steps, not the purse's! One last little story that my cousin shared, was when mom was driving my mother thru Belle Meade during my cousin's visit to Nashville, mom was turning very slowly thru the intersection. An exasperated driver behind her, blew his horn. Mom said, "He could see I was blowing my nose!"

This may be long to those listening and I could go on forever, as I have known my mom for 71 years. I have known her longer than anyone else in my life and anyone listening or reading this as far as that goes. I have been told many times, by Derek Jones, the Activities Director at Waypoint, where my mother lived for the last 2 1/2 years, that after every meal, she would stop on her way back to her room to thank Derek and the staff for the delicious meal. And I think she was the only one that took the time to do that. Mom was always so appreciative and I am so appreciative and blessed to have her as my mother.

I would also like to thank Belle Meade United Methodist Church, where she was a member for many years and for the visits from Carol Cartwright and others from her church after she became unable to attend and the many cards I found that were sent to her and signed by "her friends at BMUMC". I also want to thank Gary Cornell, Pastoral Care Minister at Bellevue United Methodist Church where my family are members. Gary has been having church with mom for the past three years at her assisted living homes and offering her communion and scripture. I know this brought her peace and gives me peace now as I say goodbye for now. -Beth Campbell