Patricia Smith Ramsey

Resident of Carmel Highlands - Patricia Smith Ramsey passed away peacefully in Monterey, California, on June 2, 2016, from advanced age-related conditions. Since 1965 and until recently, she had been a resident of Carmel Highlands. Patricia was known for her independence, incredible generosity, and powerful personality. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her quick wit and vivaciousness. There was hardly a dull moment around Patricia. She was a gracious hostess to many lively gatherings in her home over the years. Strong willed and full of passion, she was a unique character and always had an interesting story full of vibrant details. She was born Patricia Jane Smith to proud parents, Edward J. and Lillian H. Smith in Oakland, California. Especially intriguing to Patricia was the fact that she was a direct descendant of a Donner Party survivor, Louis Keseberg. He was her great-great-grandfather on her mother's side. As a young girl, Patricia attended schools in Oakland and then was accepted into UC Berkeley, where she first earned her AA degree, and then was to continue on to Boalt Hall. However, just before she was to begin her law school education, she was asked to attend elsewhere so that the soldiers returning from World War II could attend Boalt Hall. She graciously transferred to San Francisco Law School and graduated in 1951. After passing the State Bar exam on her first try, she was admitted to the State Bar of California as the youngest female in California history at the age of 24 on July 31, 1952. Following in her father's footsteps, Patricia began practicing law full time in the East Bay from 1952 until moving to the Carmel Highlands in 1965, where she then continued to practice part time until retiring in 1991. Patricia was a member of the Queen's Bench Bar Association formed by female attorneys to advance the interests of women in the legal profession. In the late 1950's, she met her future husband, Robert J. Ramsey, in Oakland, California, and they married on September 26, 1959, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They resided in Piedmont, California, for six years until moving to Carmel Highlands to manage the Highlands Inn, which her husband had acquired in 1949, where they lived together until her husband's death in July 1978. A few years later, Patricia sold the famous establishment and moved to her home nearby, as she wanted to remain in the beautiful Highlands. In the 1980's, Patricia increased her involvement in politics, as she had been a life-long staunch supporter of the Republican Party. She was a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and was very proud of this heritage. In 1984, she ran for a House of Representatives seat in the U.S. Congress, and for several years following, she was actively involved in politics, holding many fundraising events in her home. Patricia was also actively involved for many years in a long list of organizations, including the Salvation Army, Legal Services for Seniors of Monterey County, the Monterey College of Law, and The Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County, to name just a few. Her generosity and contributions, monetary and otherwise, will be beneficial by countless people in the Monterey area for many years to come. Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Lillian Smith, her step-mother, Elvera Wollitz Smith, her beloved husband, Robert J. Ramsey, her half brother, Edward F. Smith, half sister, Gladys Garcia, and step-granddaughter, Claudia Neumann. She is survived by her grand nephew, Gary Lane of Rodeo, California, and his family, by her deceased husband's son, Robert J. Ramsey, Jr., of Vina, California, and his family, by her deceased husband's daughter, Donna Treadwell, of San Francisco, and Mrs. Treadwell's daughter, Amy Treadwell, of Carmel, who was especially dear to "Granny" Patricia. She is also survived by her deceased husband's nephew, John Ramsey, Jr., and his wife, Betta, of Davis, California. Throughout most of Patricia's adult life, she bred and raised Persian cats, some of them winning first place at cat shows. She loved every one of her beautiful kitties, and they brought her great joy. Patricia was also known for her lavish dinner parties, she herself taking on the role of chef for many of these events in her home. In her later years, Patricia's family is grateful for the assistance, attentiveness and love provided by Mary Leha and her family, and more recently, her personal caregiver, Josie. A memorial service will take place on Friday, July 29th, 11:00 a.m., at the Embassy Suites Monterey Bay Seaside, located at 1441 Canyon Del Rey, Seaside. All are welcome to attend this celebration of Patricia's life. There will be a private burial at the family plot in the Yountville cemetery. Patricia's ashes will be buried next to her beloved husband's, as was her wish.