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After RAMSAY

August 2, 2008

RAMSAY (nee Sawatzky) After fighting a heroic six year battle with breast cancer, Mrs. Marlene Joy Ramsay passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at the age of 51 years. Joy succumbed peacefully to the cancerous tumors in her head. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Ken of 19 years; son, Blake (Kate) and their children, Kaylin (age 6) and Ashton (age 3) of Okotoks; son, Brent (Allison Donnelly)of Spruce View; daughter, Vanessa of Red Deer, and daughter Lorissa (Aaron Quesseth) of Spruce View. Joy will be dearly missed by her parents: Wally and Irene Sawatzky of Edson; her two brothers: Rick (Dora) of Edson and Roy of Grande Prairie; her two sisters: Wanda (Pete) and Tammy both of Edson. She will also be dearly missed by her twenty-nine nieces and nephews, her in-laws, four step-children and numerous friends all of whom she treasured. Joy was predeceased by her grandparents as well as her brother Randy in 1975. She was also predeceased by her father-in-law, Harry Ramsay in 1995; mother-in-law, Evelyn Ramsay in 2001; step-daughter, Lavonne Furman in 2002 as well as her niece, Charlotte Walker in 1992. Joy grew up in Edson, AB. She was the fourth of six children. She completed school in January of 1975, a full five months early. On May 30, 1975 Joy lost her best friend and brother, Randy to cancer. It was during this time after completing high school when Joy worked at the local Laundromat and waitressed as well. She was working to raise money to go to NAIT where she had been accepted into a sewing and tailoring program. Instead of leaving for school she met and later married Larry Furman on May 7, 1977. Their son, Larry “Blake” was born May 8, 1978 and daughter Vanessa Dawn followed on February 23, 1980. During their eleven years of marriage Joy moved fourteen times to various locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan until residing in three locations all within the Spruce View area. Joy was baptized and confirmed in the spring of 1986 at Christ Lutheran Church in the Craig District and continued to walk with the Lord for whom she could not have made it without. At the time Joy was working at the Co-op in Eckville, when the opportunity arose she transferred to the Spruce View Co-op and in December of 1987 she began a new life on her own. This is where she met her soul mate, Ken Ramsay. The two were married June 10, 1989; their son Brent Sydney Dale was born November 22, 1989 and daughter Lorissa Joy was born on March 31, 1991. Joy and Ken first resided on the Greame Budvarson Homestead where they farmed on the family farm. In November of 1997 the couple moved into Ken's parent's home, where they continued to farm on their own. Starting her new life as a farm wife Joy became an active part of the Craig Community, the Lutheran's Women's Missionary League, and the Spruce View Parent Advisory Committee. She spent countless hours at the DJRC supporting her kids in their figure skating and hockey, first as a parent and later even managing Brent's midget team. In her spare time, Joy enjoyed sewing, gardening and or housekeeping for some of the neighbors. She enjoyed volunteering at the school and helping with the kid's projects. She participated in three of the “Weekend to End Breast Cancer Walks” held in Calgary. She did this together with her younger children; all together they raised more than $11,000. Joy was diagnosed with breast cancer herself on October 15, 2002; she finished chemotherapy in May of 2003. She then spent that June doing Radiation therapy in Calgary. In October of 2006 Joy and her family were told she was cancer free that she had beaten the wicked disease. The following November she had an operation to remove a melanoma on her arm. On March 6, 2007 Joy had a seizure and several more over the following weeks. A CT scan on June 2 showed multiple brain tumors and bone cancer on her right temple. Bravely on June 19, she returned to Calgary for more radiation therapy and another round of chemotherapy that started on October 18th. Over the next months she endured many rounds of chemo, her seizures and trips to the emergency room grew more frequent. Over time Joy's bones became more brittle and the cancer travelled to the base of her spine becoming increasingly painful for her to move about. Joy was admitted to Innisfail's Palliative Care on May 16, 2008; she later moved to Red Deer on June 19, 2008 for ongoing pain management. During her lengthy stay in Hospital Joy had a total of 68 seizures dating back to March of 2007. On July 30, 2008, Joy became free of her last seizure; she spoke a little and had a clear mind to reminisce. Our beautiful wife and mother took her last peaceful breath that day; Dream a million beautiful dreams Joy, we love you. Those who wish to pay their respects to Joy Ramsay are invited to gather with the family at Bethany Lutheran Church, Dickson on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Funeral Services for the late Mrs. Joy Ramsay will be conducted at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Dickson, on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Russ Howard Officiating. Joy will be laid to rest at the Craig Cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial donations in Joy Ramsay's name may be directed to the David Thompson Health Region Foundation, PO Bag 5030, Red Deer, AB, T4N 6R2 for "Palliative Care". Condolences can be forwarded to the family at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. In living memory of Joy Ramsay, a tree will be planted in the Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium Memorial Tree Park.