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Raymond Ramsey Obituary
SPRINGFIELD - Raymond L. Ramsey, 88, of Springfield, died at 6:48 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at St. John's Hospital.
Raymond was born July 18, 1921, in Springfield, the son of Robert and Minnie Barrington Ramsey. He married Elsie Kreiger on June 10, 1955, in Shawneetown, IL. She preceded him in death.
Ray was a 1940 graduate of Lanphier High School. He went on to Bradley University where he was a valued member of the football, basketball and track teams. Ray won 13 varsity letters while scoring 994 points in basketball, setting three school records in track and becoming a Little All-America halfback in football. His college career was split in half by his service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. When he returned to Bradley he captained the basketball team in a 25-7 season and also beat then world-record holder, Earl Dugger, in the 120-yard high hurdles at the Boston AAU meet.
Ray went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL. He was on the 1947 World Championship Chicago Cardinals Team and played three years in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger Cats where he was an All-Pro Flanker. Ray also played two seasons in the NBA for the Baltimore Bullets.
Ray received his Master's degree from Sangamon State University and taught at Lanphier High School for 29 years where he also coached basketball, football and track. He organized and coached the Springfield Striders Girls Track Team for many years. Ray was inducted into the Bradley University Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was one of the original 24 inductees into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. He was a medal winner in the Illinois Senior Olympics and later officiated for them. Ray and Elsie also ran a family business, owning and operating Ra-El Concessions for the Springfield Recreation Department.
He was also also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Norman and Bob Ramsey; and two sisters, Catherine Brokaw and Neva Potter.
He is survived by three sons, Kelly Ramsey of Springfield, Raymond C. Ramsey of Las Vegas, NV, and Mark Ramsey of Orange County, CA; four daughters, Cathy Donovan of Springfield, Chris (husband, David) Broeker of Wildwood, MO, and Cheri Dickerman of Springfield and Lisa Potter of Palm Beach, FL; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.
Funeral ceremonies will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009, at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, Springfield Office, 6 Drawbridge Rd., Ste. 4, Springfield, IL 62704.
Please visit Raymond's online life story at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Ramsey
Jennifer Galloway
September 11, 2009
Kelly, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. The time and dedication you gave to your father in the later years was something to be admired. He was one of the nicest men I ever met and I always enjoyed coming over to your house and sitting on the patio with you and your parents, constantly laughing. I always left with a smile on my face and a little jealous of you...for the parents you had. You and your parents certainly had a rare and wonderful relationship. Please know they are looking upon you with a smile! My sincere condolences.
Angie Mohrman
September 6, 2009
To the Ramsey Family,
I attended Lanphier(74-76)and was on the Girls Track and Field Team. He taught me how to hurdle with Chris and Lisa. He had a very unique coaching style. Your father was a very unique person. He will be missed and my condolences to the Ramsey Family.
Melinda Morris Nash
September 3, 2009
To the family of Coach Ramsey,
I graduated from Tri-City High School in 1980. Even though I was a "country girl", Coach Ramsey not only allowed me, but he encouraged me to practice with his girls and the rest of the Springfield Striders Track Club whenever I could. Coach Ramsey definitely played a part in my success as a high school and college high jumper. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ramsey family.
scott lawrence
August 29, 2009
sorry to here of your loss , you all have been threw a lot with Rays illness
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Terry Scoggins
August 28, 2009
In honor of one of the great men I ever met.Being a former athlete I am in awe of his accomplishments and reading his obituary was like the who's who of world class athletes.That was the most incredible thing about him though.When you said hi or just spoke to him he just seemed like your neighbor.What he was though was the greatest athlete to ever come out of central Illinois and beyond.My heart goes out to Chris and Cheri who I have known since we were little kids going to St.Cabrini grade school.All I can say is that your father must have been very proud of both of you ladies.I know that I feel very fortunate to have grown up and known both of you.My deepest sympathy to your family and hope our paths cross again soon.
Jack Baskett
August 28, 2009
Condolences and Prayers to the Ramsey Family. I had Ray for several classes at LHS, and socialized with him about sports. He was a true gentleman. My mother ran around with Ray and Elsie during the AAA Cardinal era and truly enjoyed their company. Ray will be missed a true honor to know him.
Valerie Frankie/Fredericks
August 28, 2009
I remember Mr. Ramsey in the hall, always watching. Made me feel safe that he cared enough to be there everyday. Mr. Ramsey was a wonderful father too, I could see that in his daughters. There was never an "attitude" on the track field. I am sad to know he is gone.
John Brooks
August 28, 2009
To the Ramseys,.. mostly Chris... I really looked up to your Dad who was a gentle man who would not hesitate to take you aside and give you the benefit of his experience. He worked so well with kids our age when we went to Lanphier and he shoes can never be filled. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Sincere Warm Regards,
John Brooks, Lanphier '75'
Don Hudson
August 27, 2009
To The Ray Ramsey Family,
I never got to see "The Rocket" play ball,or run track, but by all accounts he was a world class athelete, and a great coach.
We all remember the man from LHS, very quiet, but was always watching and studying what was going on.
Ray's accomplishments are indeed, self-explanatory.
Not many kids had the privledge to have walked the hallways of LHS with a local legend.
Glad to have known the man, and his family.
Ray will be missed, yet remembered, for a long, long, time!
August 27, 2009
My husband, Dale Brooks, and I Pam (Fisher) Brooks went to Lanphier High in the late 1960's and your dad was Dale's drafting teacher, basketball coach and track coach. We thought the world of him and we are sorry for your loss. We were not aware of all of his accomplishments, and were awed by the write up in the newspaper. Our deepest sympathy to all the family and we will think of him with fond memories.
Dale and Pam (Fisher) Brooks
New Berlin, IL
gary norman
August 27, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Kayla Hancock
August 27, 2009
We all loved your dad very much, and I couldnt have asked for a better time to get to spend with him. It may not have been his best years but the last three and a half were wonderful. He was like a dad for me. He is now in peace with no suffering, and with mom again. Hes happy Kel.
Rosie Smith
August 26, 2009
It was a pleasure of mine and of most students of THE GREAT LANPHIER HIGH SCHOOL, to have known Mr. Ramsey! He helped so many of us realize we could do anything that we set our minds to do. It is a sad day for Springfield! He will be missed greatly!
Pat Ramsey Reed
August 26, 2009
Uncle Ray I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. I was born too early to have you as a teacher in school, but was so proud when I graduated in 1957 from Lanphier and you were teaching there the next year. Thanks for the memories and your humbleness. Proud to be your neice.
August 26, 2009
I am sorry to hear about your dad, He was a great guy. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Clay and Robin "Wainwright" Dowis
Bill Jackson
August 26, 2009
Sorry to hear of Ray's passing. He always looked fast. I still brag about how and "old" coach/teacher held the high hurdle record for decades! I saw a NFL highlight of the Chicago Cardinals with Mr. Ramsey featured. He was good to me and was fair. Condolences.
Warren Smith
August 26, 2009
I attended Lanphier High School from 69 to 72. Mr. Ramsey was my driver's Education instructor. He was a great teacher. He will be missed. My prayers are with the family.
linda gabriel
August 26, 2009
what a wonderful man Mr. Ramsey was. Great teacher, sorry how things ended up for him
Jim Zimmermann
August 26, 2009
To the family of Coach Ramsey:
Coach Ramsey was my basketball coach at Lanphier. He was not only a great coach, but more importantly a great human being. He was very influential in helping me get a basketball scholarship at Bradley University, for which I will always be grateful to him. My prayers are with the Ramsey family.
Jim Zimmermann (LHS class of '69)
Christine (Peel) Starrett
August 26, 2009
I attended Lanphier, graduated in 1980. Mr. Ramsey was a favorite teacher for a lot of students. He will be missed. My prayers are with the family.
Missi Searcy
August 26, 2009
Lindy, I am really sorry to hear about your grandfather. He was always so nice to us growing up and I have a lot of really fun memories of us hanging out at their house. He was great man I know you will miss him a lot.
Margery Bettman
August 26, 2009
My sincere sympathy to Ray's family.
As a former Peoria resident and a Bradley graduate, I usually check the papers and am saddened to hear of his death. I was a member of the Class of '46 from Bradley and remember well his many sports accomplishments. Since a daughter now lives in Springfield, I often check in and read about the happenings there as well as Peoria.
May it be of some comfort to know that you have not "lost" a father, but he is now walking with your mother and keeping watch over you and your families.
Margery Miller Bettman
1246 Foxfire Lane
Naples, Florida
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