Joyce Ramsey's Obituary
Joyce Elizabeth Gfeller Ramsey died peacefully with members of her loving family present, November 21, 2018, at Three Forks Assisted Living Center, Forney Texas at the age of 87. She loved her Lord and Savior, and knew He loved her.Joyce is survived by her brother in law Vernon Davenport of Shamrock Texas. Children, Sidney Ramsey of Grapevine Texas, David Ramsey of Forney Texas, Vada and Phillip Robles, son in law, of Justin Texas. Grandchildren, Jennifer, Jacque, Josh, Justin, Rachel, Daniel and Matthew, and thirteen great grandchildren.She was proceeded in death by her parents, Herman Gfeller, and Vera Gfeller of Vernon, Texas. Her siblings Clifford “Pete” Gfeller and Merle Gene Miller, both of Vernon Texas and Clemmie Davenport of Shamrock, her husband, Eric of Mesquite Texas and daughters-in-law, Brenda Ramsey of Grapevine Texas and Jonelle Ramsey of Forney Texas.Joyce was born January 1st ,1931 in Vernon, Texas to Herman and Vera Gfeller. She graduated Locket High school then attended Methodist hospital of Dallas school with an associate degree in nursing. Later she fulfilled her lifelong dream of obtaining her Bachler degree from East Texas State. She was a member of several academic fraternities, Phi Theta Kapa and Alpha Chi honor society.She married Eric Ramsey of Benton, Arkansas in Vernon, Texas. He was to take her on quite an adventure across most of the states of middle America. They lived in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. Along their journey they had 3 children, Sidney, born in Montana, David, born in Texas, and Vada, born in Colorado. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She always taught each one to love their Lord, as she did. She encouraged each one to be the best they could be.Joyce worked in the Operating room for most of her nursing career, with only a short stent working in a busy Pediatricians office, while her children were teenagers. Then she went back to her beloved surgery at Baylor University; where she worked for almost 20 years and retired from there. She received many accolades while working there and has a variety of plaques with her name on them. She was one of the first nurses on the Heart/ Lung transplant team. She was always ready and eager to mentor new young nurses, making them ready to be a great nurse. Her daughter eventually followed her foot steps into nursing and is also a surgical nurse. She also has 2 grandsons who have also followed her into nursing. All hoping they can some day measure up to the high standards she set in nursing.Joyce was baptized in the Christian faith January 25, 1931. She was confirmed in the Lutheran church, Easter of 1943. She was a faithful and loving servant of her Lord and Savior teaching Sunday School most of her life. She was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Dallas Texas helping in various capacities, even folding bulletins with her middle son, Dave until she became ill. She was a shining example of a Christian life. Everywhere she went people were struck by her constant smile and uplifting spirit. When asked, she would tell them “Jesus put this smile on my face”. She could have inspired the old song “This little gospel light”. She was that light to so many people, until she died. She loved her Lord and her Lord loved her.Visitation will be held on November 26, 2018, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Restland Funeral Home. Graveside services are private.
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