Frankie Ramos

Lorraine Ramos, 93, passed away peacefully of natural causes on March 27, 2017. Lorraine was born in Forrest Grove, Oregon on September 2, 1923 to Lawrence and Ernestine Williams. Lorraine had four sisters, Helen, Grayce, Barbara, Judith and one brother, Ernie. She grew up in Oregon and enjoyed a loving family relationship and special closeness to her siblings.Lorraine achieved the title of Valedictorian in high school and attended some college. She moved to Portland, OR where she was employed. In 1944 she married a U.S. Marine, Manuel Ramos, who she met through her brother-in-law. After the war ended, Lorraine and Manuel moved to Great Falls and Manuel was enlisted in the Air Force. Manuel received his college education and became a teacher in the Great Falls school system. Lorraine worked for the March of Dimes for 25 years and for a period of time at Eddys Bakery as a bookkeeper. Following Manuels retirement in 1983, Lorraine and Manuel moved to Hardy Creek, south of Great Falls, where they built a home along the Missouri River and had many happy years together. Lorraine loved swimming and once challenged by a bet with Manuel, she swam across the Missouri River at age 70. As a couple they shared a love of gardening and rock collecting and their riverside acres became a labor of love with them tending to magnificent flower and vegetable gardens and groves of fruit trees. Lorraine especially had a love for all creatures great and small, and devoted most of her later years caring for her pets, helping strays and enjoying all the wildlife that shared their land on the Missouri.Manuel died in February 2002 and Lorraine continued to live there for several more years, until she returned to Great Falls, living just outside of town. She then moved to the Cottonwood Condos where she enjoyed the company of her friends and neighbors. Lorraine eventually moved into an assisted living facility at Cambridge, in Great Falls, where she lived for several years.Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Ernestine Williams; husband Manuel Ramos; and sisters Helen Welch, Grayce Folsom, Barbara Landauer, and Judith Pratt.She is survived by her brother, Ernest (Margaret) Williams of Estacada, OR; long-time friend of 50+ years, Virginia Piatt of Great Falls; dear friend and caregiver, Debbie Dennis; close friend, Gym Anderson, both of Cascade; nieces Karen Craig and Julie Payne and nephews Steven and Matthew Pratt, all of Washington and Oregon.Lorraine requested no services. Cremation has taken place and her ashes will be placed with her deceased husband and other family members in Oregon. Memorials may be sent to Pet Paw-See of Great Falls, or any worthy cause that helps animals.