Rodger Ramey

Rodger H. Ramey, age 85, of Lamar, passed away Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Barton County Memorial Hospital following an apparent heart attack.      Rodger was born February 27, 1929 at Overland Park, Kansas, to Lee and Evelyn (Snyder) Ramey.  After high school, he began a 43 year career as a tool and die maker, working first for Lawn Boy in Lamar for 16 years.  When Lawn Boy left Lamar, Rodger was hired by King Press in Joplin, and worked there for 27 years before retiring in 1991.      On February 16, 1946, at Olathe, Kansas, Rodger married the love of his life, Martha Marie Vest and they made their home and raised their family in Lamar.  In addition to being a devoted husband and father, Rodger was a wonderful neighbor and a trusted and loyal friend to many.  In his younger years, he earned a pilot’s license and enjoyed flying his own plane.  Rodger and Martha shared fond memories of the fellowship of friends met through camping trips in their Avion travel trailer.  He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Lamar.      Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Martha, of the home; a son, Stephen (Sharon) Ramey of Joplin; a daughter, Sharon (Steve) Chandler of Germantown, Tennessee; a sister, Shirley Whitehouse of Louisburg, Kansas; four grandchildren, Stephen Dwayne Ramey, Christopher (Christy) Ramey, Stacey (Jay) Schwarzmann, and Shannon (Justin) Jones; and six great-grandchildren, Cameron Scott, Brandon, Savannah Marie, Ashley Marie, Emma Noelle, and Linden Marie.      A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 25th at First Baptist Church of Lamar with Pastor Robb Hodson officiating.  The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the memorial service.      Memorial contributions are suggested to First Baptist Church of Lamar.