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Verla Jean "Kelley" Ramirez
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YAKIMA - Verla Jean "Kelley" Ramirez, 64, of Yakima passed away at home on Friday, September 18, 2009. Kelley was born in Springfield, Oregon on February 9, 1945 to Berdena and Lyle Kelley. She was the last of 6 children, and grew up on a turkey farm. Kelley always told stories of the crazy turkeys, and how they always let her and only her in the pen with them, yet they would chase her brothers and sisters out. She graduated from Florence High School, in Florence, Oregon and later went on to receive her AA degree in Dietary Management from YVCC.
Kelley worked many jobs as a cook or chef, including restaurants, bars, a hospital, and nursing homes. She was loved and respected by all who worked with her. She was a self-proclaimed workaholic! She worked very hard and was proud of what she did, at one point she was working two different jobs. When she was not working she could be found reading anything she could get her hands on, especially any book by her favorite author Mary Dahiem, or spending time with her daughter and other friends and family.
Kelley loved football games. She loved to watch the Steelers because their colors were the same as her high school's, but her heart was always with the Seahawks. After she retired she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, teaching them to cook and bake anything they wanted. She loved music of all sorts, including classics, oldies, Spanish, and country. When music was on she was always singing along with it, dancing, laughing, and just being funny. She loved to paint and took classes from a Bob Ross instructor. She learned sign language from a class at YVCC.
Kelley was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Wayne and Glen Kelley, a sister Vera Huges, a daughter Melinda Kelley, and daughter Mary Ramirez, in February of this year, and by a dearly loved friend Dolly McGowan. She is survived by her sister Velma Abarr of Oregon, and a brother Clyde Kelley of Hawaii. Also her son Butch Mercado, his wife Stacey and their children, Nikita, Raymond, Hayley and Zoey; her niece Tammy Perez and her two children and nephew Mike Bak and his three children, and numerous other nieces and nephews, and by her ex-husband Onesimo Ochoa Ramirez, with whom she had always maintained a close and special relationship, and dear friends Karen Johnson, Sammy Henry and the whole crew at Buena Bill's Tavern.
Please send any donations to Valley Hills Funeral Home.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Yakima Chapel of Valley Hills Funeral Home. Send condolences at www.valleyhillsfh.com.
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Kelley was a great and wonderful person. Those who met her for the first time would have two different reactions... The first reaction would be the first time they heard her joke around. Immediately their jaw would drop and they would look at her with astonishment. Immediately after they would break out into a huge smile and laugh. Kelley had a way to bring the best out of people. She was also there whenever you needed her. I can't begin to tell you how many times I would call her and just hearing her sing-song voice on the other end of the line could make you feel 100% better. There was never a time since I have known Kelley that she didn't take the oppurtunity to make one smile or laugh. Even when times were rough for her, you could always count on Kelley's personality to shine through her pain and sorrow... She is a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and friend. She always spoke with such pride when she talked about her children and grandchildren. Just having the opportunity to watch her talk and play with Nakita, Raymond, Hayley and Zoey was an experience like no other. Kelley's face would light up a room when she talked about her family, which was her everything. She especially was proud of her son and the father that he is. Kelley didn't have friends, she had brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, extra children and extra grandchildren. You never felt as if she was just your friend. To everyone, she was either mama Kelley or grandma Kelley. I can remember when I first met Kelley I was unable to read her. My husband was fortunate enough to know her for a lot longer than I did, but the first time she hugged me, she instantly told me "I love ya" and I knew from that moment that she had touched a part of me that would never be the same. She was just that wonderful of a woman, not only to me, but to many people. Butch, Stacey, Nakita, Raymond, Haley and Zoey, Dan and I would like to express our love and appreciation that we have for Kelley and we would also like to offer our deepest condolences. we are unable to be here with you today, but please know that you are in our prayers.
Daniel, Randi, Dustyn, Gabriel, Amaya and Michael Schneider
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Cliff and I would like to send our thoughts and prayers to all of Kelly's friends and family. Kelly was a loving friend of not only us but my mother Dolly McGwin. She will be missed by so many.
Cliff and Catherine Weed.
360-866-9030
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I AM SO SORRY I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE THERE.I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND SHE WILL BE MISSED GREATLY,I ALWAYS LOVED TO SPEND TIME WITH MOMMA KELLEY AND MY FRIEND MARY WHO I ALSO MISS VERY MUCH.IT GIVES ME GREAT COMFORT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER AGAIN AND LAUGHING AND CUTTING UP.AND IT IS NICE TO KNOW WE HAVE TWO ANGELS AMOUNG US.
MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO ALL OF THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THIS WONDERFUL AND CARING WOMAN.
MARILYN NORTON
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