Alice Lou Gass Ramsey, 74, of Elizabethton, passed away Monday, June 9, 2014, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital from complications from cancer.
Alice was born January 29, 1940, in Greene County, the eighth of 12 children to the late Charles Hardin and Hazel Casteel Gass.
Alice was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and a member of Oak Street Baptist Church. Alice was a former member of the Elizabethton City Council, Past President of the Elizabethton Ladies Golf Association, as well as other boards and positions. Her greatest passion was helping others; she was well-known for reaching out to those in need and the less fortunate. She never sought recognition for herself but was eager to acknowledge the accomplishments of others.
She and her husband, Jack, owned and operated Coleman’s Studio and Tri-States School Pictures for a number of years before retiring. Alice was especially fond of her three foster grandchildren, Hannah, Kayla and Marlee Barnett; they added meaning to her life as did other children that were around her.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Jack Ramsey; a sister, Mary Christine Jenkins; three brothers, Charles Duane, Everette Lee and William Ross Gass; and a step-son, Johnny Ramsey.
Survivors include five brothers, Phil of Elizabethton, Jim and wife Jerry, Marietta, Ga., Lewis and wife Brenda, Elizabethton, Michael and wife Shea, Elizabethton, and Bob and wife Pat, Mt. Ulla, N.C.; two sisters, Joan Brewer, and Lois and husband Bill Schaff, all of Elizabethton; a step-daughter, Kathy Nave, Augusta, Ga.; a step-grandson, Cody Nave, Falls Church, Va.; and her two step-great-granddaughters, Ellen and Lauren Nave, Falls Church, Va. She is also survived by her three very special foster granddaughters, Hannah, Kayla and Marlee Barnett. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ramsey will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Bruce Hendrich and the Rev. Bob Polk officiating. Music will be provided by Mr. Bill Fancher. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum of Hope at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be selected from her brothers and nephews. To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Alice to the “We Love Our Church,” c/o Oak Street Baptist Church, 804 Oak Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family will receive friends from noon Friday until the service hour. Friends may also visit other times with the family at the residence of a brother, Michael Gass, 173 Southgate Drive, Elizabethton. The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff of Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton for the compassionate care Alice received during her illness. Condolences to the Ramsey family may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.