Mary Kay Ramsey

Mary Kay Ramsey, 85, of Wichita and former long-time Parsons resident, passed away Monday, March 4, 2024. She began her final trip after a life of devotion to God, family and country.

Mary Kay Ramsey was born on July 30, 1938, to K. Clinton and Mary Esther (Gahagan) Ramsey in Parsons, Kansas.  She grew up in Parsons and attended St. Patrick Grade School and High School, graduating from St. Patrick High School in 1956.

At age 14, Mary Kay began working at the Parsons Drive-in.  During her senior year of high school, she began working at Southwestern Bell as an operator.  Her career at Southwestern Bell would cover Assistant Chief Operator and Chief Operator.  After the dissolution of Southwestern Bell, she moved to the Engineering Department.  She would say she had to learn to climb a telephone pole like the men she supervised.  Over those years, she worked in Parsons, Chanute, Topeka, Sabetha and Wichita.

In 1980, Mary Kay moved back to Parsons from Sabetha and decided to serve her community.  She was elected to the City Commission in April 1981.  After serving for nine years, she resigned in 1990.  While on the City Commission, Mary Kay became the first woman Mayor of Parsons in 1982. She would again serve in the role of mayor in 1985 and 1989.

After retiring in 1994, Mary Kay began working at Goodwill Tours of Erie.  This dovetailed perfectly with her joy of traveling.  She loved the preparation of compiling information about the destination of the tour and the sights along the way.  Her saying for stragglers on the trip was that she left with 50 people and would return with 50, but it was up to the clients if it were the same 50.  She "retired" from Goodwill, when the company closed.

Her wanderlust started at an early age.  At three years old, Mary Kay would walk to the corner of 13th and Main to meet her father and ride the milk wagon horse home when he delivered milk for Meadow Gold.  One day she decided to walk across Labette Creek bridge and meet him at 500 East Main.  He wasn't too pleased with her independence and she stood all the way home that day.  Guess the reason.

In the early 1960's, Mary Kay and friend, Bobby Seely did a road trip driving to Pensacola, Florida.  A daunting trip for two young women.  In the 1970's, she traveled the world with Mary Kay Diskin.  She often told the story of not having the proper papers while on tour in Russia and relying on a taxi driver with limited English to save them.  In the 1980's, she traveled with her brother, Tom, and his friends.  Ilse Farran was with them and proved a worthy friend and interpreter.

After her retirement from Goodwill, she would travel yearly with friends from Sabetha and developed a love of "cruising."  This would come in handy as the last 10 years of her life, Mary Kay and her brother, Don, would take numerous trips together.  These trips often included her brother, Steve, and his wife, Sheila.

A devout Catholic, Mary Kay referred to herself as "Roamin' Catholic" after her move to Wichita in 1990.  She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

Mary Kay was an avid bowler, with a room full of trophies, and a talented golfer.  In fact, the rumor was that Louis Moriarity did not want to play golf with her because he didn't want to be outdriven by a woman.

A friend to so many, Mary Kay could not be sent to Wal Mart in Parsons to pick up something "quick" due to her numerous friends and acquaintances.  Her friends in Wichita were near and dear to her and her trainer, Steph, was a particular favorite.

Mary Kay lived her life on her terms with love and compassion.

Survivors include:

Three brothers – Joseph Ramsey and his wife, Joyce, of Gruene, Texas

Donald Ramsey of Grandview, Missouri

Stephen Ramsey and his wife, Sheila, of Dennis, Kansas

Numerous nieces and nephew in whom she took great pride

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Thomas Ramsey.

The Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons.  The rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, prior to the Mass.  Burial of cremains will take place at a later date at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick Catholic School Endowment Fund, The Lord's Diner in Wichita, or the March of Dimes.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.