Keston Leland Ramsey

Keston Leland

RAMSEY

Keston Leland Ramsey, age 101, passed away January 28, 2010. He was born August 1, 1908, in Susanville, CA, to John Max Ramsey and Lola Mae Hunsinger Ramsey. The eldest of four children, he attended Susanville schools, including three years at Lassen County High School, before graduating from Reno High a year after the family moved to Reno in 1925.

The hallmark of Keston's long life was his industriousness and ingenuity. He got his first jobs at age 12 delivering Western Union telegraphs, passing out theater handbills and pumping gas at a service station. And he stayed busy his entire life, strong and active until the time of his death.

At 13, Keston won a radio receiver by selling 20 subscriptions to the San Francisco Examiner. It was Susanville's first one-tube radio, still in the era of Morse code, and he modified it with a two-stage amplifier to increase the signal. In 1922 at age 14, he bought his first car, rebuilding the engine and body of the 1915 Model-T Ford chassis.

Keston became an apprentice carpenter after high school graduation in 1926. In 1932-33, the era of the Great Depression, he began Ramsey Construction and received one of the first contractor's licenses issued in the state of Nevada. Building would be his lifelong career, interrupted only briefly to work at the Reno Army Base when World War II halted homebuilding. He built homes by himself at first, many in old southwest Reno and the first FHA-financed home in Nevada. Years later, younger brother Duane and eventually, sons Allan and Robert, joined with him as partners in the family business, renamed Ramsey Brothers Builders. Thousands of people have lived in or still dwell today in homes built by Keston over more than a half century throughout northern Nevada. He retired in 1984 at age 76.

He married Carlisle Martha Morris in 1929. The couple happily celebrated 80 years of marriage in September 2009 surrounded by family and friends.

In 1945, Keston built and opened Sky Tavern, the first ski resort at Mt. Rose. The facility would become the longtime home of the Reno Junior Ski program Keston co-founded with Marcie Herz and Hal Codding in the winter of 1948-49. He sold Sky Tavern to the City in 1964; the family remained avid skiers, hosted occasional famous visitors to the Lake Tahoe area, and enjoyed their nearby cabin that he'd built.

Keston served four years in the Navy Reserve, led a scout troop and briefly taught woodshop. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Kerak Shrine — recently honored as its oldest active member. He was a member of the Association of General Contractors, active in the Builders Association of Northern Nevada and South Reno Lions, and was a charter member of the Northern California & Nevada Ski Lift Operators Association. Over the years he was written about in numerous regional publications and the local newspaper. He was honored in 2003 by the University of Nevada, Reno Ski Team at the 8th Annual Salute to Champions Pride of Nevada for his contributions to the sport of snow skiing, and was featured in the University's book, "The Oral History of Skiing."

It is impossible to estimate the legacy and impact of Keston Ramsey on his family, friends, industry and community through his love and care for his beloved Carlisle and his kindness, fortitude, skill and generosity. He is greatly admired and greatly missed following a full life in both number of days and how he lived them. Keston skied until age 92 and golfed until 98. He took great pride in still having his driver's license, which was renewed in 2009. He enjoyed working in the yard on his tractor, where up until just days before his passing he was happily doing just that, even at age one hundred and one.

Keston was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Gwen Scott and Fern Sandorf. He is survived by wife Carlisle; brother Duane of Reno; sons Robert (Dee Skinner) and Allan (Jane Murdock), both of Reno; grandson Thayne of Reno; five granddaughters, Sydnee Stipech (David), Jenifer Dooley (Justin), Marie Affinito, and Leslie Acosta (Randy), all of Reno, and Lisa Evatz (Mark) of Winnemucca; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Keston's request, no public service will be held. A private service will be held at a future date. Keston's final resting place will be the family gravesite in the Mohawk Cemetery near Graeagle, CA, not far from the Susanville area where he built radios and cars as a child, and near the Plumas National Forest Mills Peak Fire Lookout Station he constructed in 1932 at age 24. He visited the site in 1995, stating that one of his proudest accomplishments was the quality construction of the facility, outlasting other lookout stations of that era and remaining in operation to this day.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Phil Goodman and Dr. John Williamson for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Reno Junior Ski Program, c/o Keston Ramsey Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1709, Reno, NV 89505 (www.skytavern.com).