Obituary of Horace Nell Ramey

Horace Nell Ramey was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 18, 1943 to the late Horace and Bertha Johnson. She was the last born of the six Johnson siblings. She looked so much like her father that he decided to name her after him. Nell, as she liked to be referred to, attended public schools in Shreveport, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. She went on to spend many years working as a secretary for the State of Colorado Department of Revenue and as a school bus aide with Denver Public School where she worked until retirement. Nell married George Ramey on December 2, 1994. They were married for 17 years until his passing on January 25, 2012. Together they enjoyed going on cruises and attending functions with his social club She loved to dress, cook and bake. No outfit was complete without matching shoes and accessories. On her dialysis days, clinic staff would often compliment her on how nice she looked. It was a point of pride. Going out the house without red lips was a cardinal sin for Nell. Lipstick was one of her trademarks. She was also known for her delicious dinners. She inherited her mother’s knack for seasoning food. It was second nature to her. Family gatherings were never complete without one of her famous desserts. Her specialties were Banana Pudding, Lemon Meringue and Sweet Potato pies. No one could turn out a pie like Nell – no one. Most days you would find Nell watching her favorite soap operas or a Tyler Perry television show in the evenings. If she knew you liked the same show(s), she would call you to either let you know it was on or if she had missed an episode, it would be for you to catch her up on what she had missed. She also loved listening to talk radio to keep up on current events. For those who knew her well, knew of her fondness for playing the slot machines at the casinos in Blackhawk. That was her favorite pastime, and she would win…often! Even though recent surgeries had slowed her down, she was still looking forward to the day she could return. No wheelchair was going to stop Nell from doing what she enjoyed. Even though she struggled with several health issues during the later years of her life, she never complained. Never felt sorry for herself. Instead, Nell saw them as challenges and something that “just happened.” They did not define her. To say she was “resilient” is an understatement. On Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 2:30a.m., God said “enough” and took Nell home to suffer no more. In addition to her late parents, Nell was preceded in death by her husband, George Ramey; son Keith Mackey; two brothers: Ashton Johnson and Abdul Rahman (nee Charles Johnson) and one sister, Earnestine Mantley. Nell leaves behind to cherish her memory two sons: Stephen and Patrick Johnson, both of Denver, Colorado; two sisters: Kathryn (Willie) Anthony, Lake Charles, Louisiana and Arlene Bryant, Aurora, Colorado; five grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. You will live on in our hearts...Nellie