Dr. Jed J. Ramsey

Jed J. Ramsey, 91, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on May 8, 2017, in Beaumont.

Dr. Ramsey was born in Lane county, Kansas, to R. Jed and Clara Creasser Ramsey on 17 October 1925. He attended a one room country school and Dighton High School in Lane county. Upon graduation from high school in 1942, he attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, on a music scholarship.  In 1944, he was inducted into the U.S. Navy; he served in the Pacific theater in World War II.  Following his service he married Frances Ewart on May 31,1948, in Minneapolis, Kansas. In 1949, he graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in electrical engineering.  

He taught Science, Math, Chorus, and Band at Courtland High School of Courtland, Kansas, for ten years (1950-60) and Science at Minneapolis High School for three years (1960-63). He received a Master’s Degree from Emporia State Teacher’s College in 1962 and his doctorate in Biological Sciences from Oklahoma State University in 1965.  He taught in the biology department at Lamar University from 1965 until 1990, receiving an award from the College of Arts and Sciences for excellence in teaching in April, 1986 and the Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Award in May, 1990. After his retirement from Lamar he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Triangle Aids Network. In 2009 he published Parables of a Granddad, a compilation of short essays based on his childhood and his experiences with his children and grandchildren, written as parables.

Wherever he resided he was always an active leader in his church; since 1965 he has been a member of Calder Baptist Church of Beaumont, Texas, serving as a faithful Sunday School teacher to all ages, as a vocalist in the Sanctuary Choir, serving on a variety of church committees and missions, and as a deacon for 50 years.  He was a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of Beaumont, Texas, a long-time member of the Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society, the Beaumont Community Players, the Knife and Fork Club, Travel and Leisure Club, and an active leader of various levels of Boy Scouts of America.  His academic affiliations included:  faculty sponsor of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Sigma Xi, the Audubon Society, the Big Thicket Association, and the Lamar Retirees Association. 

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances Ramsey of Beaumont; two sons, Dr. David Ramsey of Houston, Texas and Bob Ramsey of Austin, Texas; and one daughter, Julia Ramsey Lewitt of Sandia Park, New Mexico; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces; nephews; a cousin; and other relatives and friends. He is pre-deceased by his ten brothers and sisters and his son, Dr. Dan E. Ramsey, late of Johnson City, Texas.  

A gathering of Dr. Ramsey’s family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Broussard’s. A private family graveside will be held at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.  

If you wish to make a memorial gift in his honor the family suggests a contribution to the Dr. Jed Ramsey Scholarship in Biology at Lamar University, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77712.