Ramona Lee Church

Ramona Lee Church passed away on December 9, 2019 at a Meridian hospital from complications of diabetes. Ramona was 80 years old. She was the first born to Fern and Earl Graham on July 10, 1939. Ramona spent her younger years in Bruneau. She attended Bruneau schools and then completed her senior year at St. Theresa’s Academy in Boise, graduating in 1957. She then moved to Elko, and lived with her aunt Marjorie (Strickland) Vitale with her children Joe and Arlene Jarvis. During this time, she met Frederick Tay Hall at a Mountain City dance. Fred was the son of Margaret (Hawes) and Elmer Hall of Mountain City. Fred and Ramona were married in September 1957. Ramona loved Mountain City, Nevada and the surrounding area especially Merritt Mountain riding in Fred’s fixed up jalopy. Fred and Ramona ran a gas station in Mountain City when first married and since this did not pan out, they moved back to Elko. Fred then worked construction and Ramona was a slot girl at the Stockman’s Casino. They then moved back to Bruneau so Fred could work construction on a missile base project until that job was completed. In 1963 they moved to Sacramento, California so Fred and his father in law Earl Graham could work on a top-secret rocket fuel facility for Kaiser Construction Group. Fred and Ramona eventually moved to Vallejo, California while Fred was a cement mason for Maher and Hess Construction and raised their three kids until they were divorced in 1974. Ramona then worked a variety of jobs as a motel manager, cook at Sears cafeteria, bill collector and cocktail waitress supporting her family. She eventually got a job at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo as a Dispersing Officer until the base closed in 1994. She then transferred to China Lake Weapons Station in Ridgecrest, California until she retired in 2006 after 33 years working for the government. She met Maurice Church at the Ridgecrest Fair while she was cooking corn at a Lion’s Club booth. Maurice and Ramona were married in November 1995. After her retirement, Maurice and Ramona lived in Bullhead City, Arizona and eventually moved to Ontario, Oregon to be closer to family. Ramona loved traveling and had many trips throughout the United States and abroad. Maurice and Ramona traveled all over the United States going on several cruises in the Caribbean and a trip to Rome and Madrid. Ramona was an avid reader and loved libraries. She loved historical books the best. She loved talking politics and family history. She loved the ocean and while living in Vallejo she took her family to many hot dog picnics at Stinson Beach and Dillon Beach near San Francisco. She loved Northern California exploring museums and old Spanish Missions. She loved camping along the Russian River and at Icehouse Reservoir near Placerville with her family. Ramona loved to talk and you had to be prepared that you may not know where the conversation was going end up. Ramona was known everywhere for her cooking skills. She could cook anything and was very generous cooking for many events, and for families and friends. She loved making cakes, pies, jams and jellies. Ramona and Maurice sold jams and jellies at community events in Bullhead City just to have fun and watch people. She had a great kindness towards animals and especially loved her dog, Max. Mom and Max went everywhere in her little Mazda pickup exploring California. Her kids had cats, dogs, guinea pigs, turtles, ducks, chickens, parakeets and a rabbit that loved eating whipped cream. She is survived by her husband Maurice Church of Ontario, Oregon, her mother Fern Graham of Bruneau, and brothers Roger Graham of Meridian and Leon Graham of Bruneau. She is also survived by her three children, daughter Susan Kay Davis (Duffy) of Bremerton, Washington; daughter Marjorie Lee Hall of Ogden, Utah and son Fred Gregory Hall of Emmett. Her grandchildren Michael Joseph Davis (Kristen) of Bremerton, Washington; Megan Lena Hall of Beaverton, Oregon; Katelyn Emily Hall of Moscow, Idaho; Benjamin Gregory Hall of Emmett; James Lee Royster of Lancaster, California. Great grandsons, Azariah Davis, Ezekiel Davis and Owen Royster. She is preceded in death by her grandson Kevin Mark Davis, Father Earl Lee Graham, maternal grandparents William Pern and Lena Gertrude (Wilson) Strickland of Bruneau and paternal grandparents Earl Victor and Zella Marie (Delaye) Graham of Hot Springs, Arkansas. A Remembrance Dinner was held on Dec 14, 2019 at the Bruneau Community Church. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Ramona’s remains will be spread on Merritt Mountain, Nevada when the sunflowers come out this spring. If you are inclined, donations to the National Diabetes Association in her name would be appreciated.