Mary Lou Black, daughter of William Mackie (1897-1950) and Mary Louisa (Vansyckel) (1900-1990) Black, was born 28 April 1929 Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  She graduated in 1947 from Okemos High School.  Mary Lou married Richard Handy "Dick" Ramsey 7 September 1947 Okemos, Ingham County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 17 September 1947

BLACK-RAMSEY VOWS ARE EXCHANGED IN OKEMOS CEREMONY

Vows were exchanged September 7 by Miss Mary Lou Black and Richard Ramsey in the sanctuary of Okemos Community church before an altar decorated with yellow gladioli, palms and lighted tapers.  Rev. Harold Jayne officiated.  The bride is the daughter of the William Blacks, East Mt. Hope road.

The bride had selected her four sisters and a cousin to be her attendants.  Mrs. Frank Huyck was matron of honor and bridesmaids were Mrs. Lenneth Britt, Miss Dorothy Delamarter and Miss Margaret Ann Black.  Georgia Kay Black carried the ring.  All five were dressed in blue with accents of yellow in their colonial bouquets.

The bride wore a gown of white satin, embroidered with seed pearls.  She carried a bouquet of white flowers and wore a single strand of pearls, a gift of the bridegroom.

Hugh Ramsey of Denton, Md., was his brother's best man.  Ushers included Frank Huyck, Lenneth Britt and Mackie Black.

A reception followed on the lawn of the Black home.  Hostesses were Miss Patricia Kelly, Miss Joan Kaltenegger, Miss Arlyle Miller, Miss Frances Price and Miss Joyce Stillman.

When the newlyweds return September 25 from a wedding trip and visit to Mr. Ramsey's family in Virginia and Washington, D.C., they will make their home in East Lansing.  Mr. Ramsey is a forestry student at Michigan State college.

Dick, born 28 July 1919 Goshen, Rockbridge County, Virginia, was a World War II Army veteran, serving 1940-1945.

The Daily Telegram (Adrian, Michigan) Thursday 19 June 1943

Staff Sergt. Richard H. Ramsey of Goshen, VA., shot down one of the five Messerschmitts which concentrated upon one Liberator over Gerbini, on a railway line 143 miles west of Catania. (Note: Italy)

"It looked like they were trying to swarm us," he said.  "They singled us out from the rest of the formation and started working on us from all directions.  They were eager enough, but weren't very good shots.  Every time I could get my sights on one I let fly.  The second time I made a pass I saw my tracers tear into a Messerschmitt wing and he went out of control.  I saw him splash when he hit."

Dick graduated Michigan State College.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 11 August 1948

8 LOCAL MEN TOUR IN FOREST STUDY

LEARN FORESTRY TECHNIQUES WITH M.S.C. GROUP

Eight Lansing men are among 143 Michigan State college sophomore forestry students working and living "in the rough" in a forestry camp in the 6,000 acre Dunbar experimental forest near Sault Ste. Marie.

During 10 weeks of cruising the huge forest, mapping, constructing rest camps and trails for tourists. inventorying timber, and operating bulldozers, power saws and other lumbering equipment, the young foresters ware earning valuable credits toward graduation.

Lansing youths attending the camp are Gordon O. Cech, Roe S. Cochran, Jack Francis, Carl W. Heinowski, Ira E. John, Jr., Brice Liming, Tunis J. Lyon and Richard H. Ramsey.

The students are divided into groups each of which spends one week on Neebish island in the St. Mary's river where, besides regular class assignments, they set up a tent camp, cook and do their own laundry in the open.  Each student also spends three days touring the eastern half of the upper peninsula inspecting timber stands, parks and forest utilization projects.

Dick died 22 February 1984 Jackson County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 23 February 1984

RICHARD RAMSEY, 64, RETIRED LANSING TEACHER

Richard Ramsey, 64, a retired Lansing School District special education teacher, died Wednesday at his home in Jackson.

Ramsey was affectionately known as "The Animal Man" because of his interest in animals and his "special" children, said John Breaugh, Beekman principal and longtime friend.

"Dick was instrumental in developing the animal program at the Beekman Center," Breaugh said.

"He'd bring in animals from his own farm...horses, lambs...just so the youngsters could see and touch them."

"He always had a big compassion for children...particularly the more limited child.  He was a very sensitive teacher." Breaugh said.

A native of Virginia, Ramsey taught in Virginia and Jackson before joining the Lansing School District in 1961 as a special education teacher at West Junior High School.  He also taught at Christiancy Elementary School.  Ramsey joined the Beekman Center staff when the building opened in 1968 and retired in 1981.

Ramsey is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; three sons, Richard A., of Livermore, Calif., William R. of Denver, Colo., and Roger B., of Rochester, Ind.; two daughters, Bethany Chenoweth, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Gloria of Denver, Colo., and four grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Patience Montgomery Luecht Funeral Home in Leslie.

Mary Lou died 21 November 1991, Jackson County, Michigan.  Dick and Mary Lou were interred Lincoln-Pomeroy Cemetery, Tompkins, Jackson County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 24 November 1991

RAMSEY, MARY LOU BLACK

JACKSON

Age 62, passed away Thursday, November 21, 1991 at her home.  Services will be held at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Jackson at 11 a.m. Monday, November 25, 1991 with Rev. George R. Grettenberger officiating.  Burial in Lincoln Cemetery.