Leola was born on March 12, 1931, in St. Paul to Elmer G. and Iva Jane (Smith) Ashcraft. She grew up in the St. Paul area and attended local schools.
She met, fell in love with and was united in marriage to Wilbern Ramsey Sr. on June 27, 1949. From this union they were blessed with five children, Wilbern Jr., Kenneth, Roger, Linda and Perry. Her husband Wilbern preceded her in death on Aug. 8, 2009. The family lived in Parsons for 25 years, Pittsburg for five years and Russell for 46 years. During World War II and the Korean War, Leola worked at Mercy Hospital in Parsons. They moved the family to Russell in 1962, where she dedicated her life as a homemaker taking care of her husband and children.
She was a member of the Nazarene Church and enjoyed working in her flower garden and collecting dolls. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and many grandchildren.
Surviving family include sons Wilbern Ramsey Jr. and his wife, Pam, Kenneth Ramsey and his wife, Cindy, Roger Ramsey and his wife, Raileene, and Perry Ramsey and his wife, Valerie, all of Russell; a daughter, Linda Christian and her husband, Carrol, of Russell; a sister, Esther Phelan of Bartlesville, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Other family preceding her in death include her parents and two brothers, Collis Smith and Kenneth Ashcraft.
A celebration of Leola’s life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary, with family present to greet visitors from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorials may be given to the Kansas State University Basic Cancer Research and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
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