US Navy Beach Jumpers Assoc.

Homer Ramsey, 72, of Colo, passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Homer was born October 4, 1940, in Ames to Elwood and Velda (Lee) Ramsey. He graduated from Ames High School in 1958. Homer served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1967 during which time he was part of the Beach Jumpers. He worked 30 years for 3M, retiring in 2000. Homer enjoyed his coffee groups, going to Wilson's Auction House and the Meskwaki Casino. Homer is survived by his wife of 44 years, La Rue of Colo; his sons, Bob (Deborah Hannen) Ramsey of Iowa City and Mike Ramsey of Colo; and his brother, Len Ramsey of Ames. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David; two sisters, Marion Mehle and Eileen Vaughn; and a brother, Elwood Ramsey. Memorial services will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2013, at Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada, 1418 Fawcett Parkway. [Thank you to Tom Marco for forwarding this] Nov 12, 2013, at 12:16 AM, Mike Ramsey wrote: This is to let you know Homer Ramsey was laid to rest on Saturday May 4th at Colo IA cemetery. We just had a small personal group of family there. It was his wife LaRue Ramsey, oldest son Bob and his wife Deb, youngest son Mike, his remaining living brother Lenard (a navy man like Homer's other brother Elwood), his niece Betty, and LaRue's brother Joe Sandve. We had an honor guard there as well. A nice young man played taps, they unfolded and then refolded his flag and presented it to mother. He decided he had to take one last "jump" as he "jumped" off the little stand he was on. Everything was ok, the wind just caught it and fell over. Homer's favorite thing to say about what the Beach Jumpers did was this. He would get up and start jumping around and say the Beach Jumpers would jump around on the beach....looking for the land mines. As per his request when he was laid to rest we all sprinkled a little bit of Folgers coffee in there for him, it will percolate up just like his percolating coffee maker and he will have coffee when ever he wants it. When he was told what was going on he told us he wishes. He also said if it happened during the cold months just wait. He didn't want someone out digging in the cold for him. We tried to honor that wish. We wanted until May thinking that would be a nicer month. This year there was a freak snow storm in May, the night before the date we choose. There was about an inch of snow maybe on the ground. As he knew, that's the way Iowa weather can be, one day sunny then the next snowy even in May. We then went and had a good lunch and talked and all had coffee, even though none of usually do except for Deb. I had to put sugar and cream in mine even though Homer always had his black. I remember the day he got the phone call from Tom about the beach jumpers reunions. He had pulled the car around to the house and was waiting for mom and I to come out so we could go out for supper. I took the call and went out and I said there was a Tom Marca..Marcon or something like that talking about some navy thing and he isn't a telemarketer or asking for anything. It took about 2 seconds for the light to go off in his head. He yelled THE GRAPE and ran passed me so fast I felt a breeze and he even left the car running and the door open. I think I got the names right, at least I hope I did. He was on the phone for who knows how long and the ride that night to and from supper was filled with stories, some we heard and some new. I don't think the smile left his face that night at all. The pictures I'm sending are of the flowers and plaque and we hope they as what you all like. The plaque stayed with him. We also have his marker and we made sure it had BJU-1 TEAM 12 and RM3 US NAVY, no picture of it on my computer. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this email out. Things have been busy around here with paper work and getting ready for winter. I just put up his snow fence this week and got his lawn mower switched over to a snow blower this week too. Today just seemed like it would be a good day to send this out and to say thank you to everyone for your service and what you did for everyone here and a thank you for the stories we heard and the times you all shared together. Thank you. LaRue, Bob, Deb and Mike Ramsey

RM3 Homer Ramsey BJU-1 1963-67 d. 2-27-2013 “Fair winds and following seas”