Jo Ramirez

Jo Ramirez went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 10, 2013. She died in Frederick, Oklahoma, at the age of 87 years, five months and nine days. She was born on June 1, 1926, to Martin and Basilisa (Camarillo) Ramirez, in Carnegie, Oklahoma. Jo was raised in St. Richard's Catholic Church in Carnegie. She is the fourth oldest of nine children. She attended school in Carnegie, but only went as far as the third grade. As a young child, Jo and her siblings helped their Dad pick cotton for various farmers in the Carnegie area. The family worked from early morning until late in the evening. Jo's Dad also ran a snow cone stand that the family also helped with. Jo's Dad was famous around Carnegie for his delicious snow cones. Jo's brothers and sisters can still refer to a story about "pulling bolls" or working at the snow cone stand. The house in which Jo grew up was located in a low valley by the Washita River. One year, Carnegie had a huge rain that washed the river up and flooded their home. The family was forced to leave their home with no time to gather their belongings. To this day, Jo's brothers and sisters will talk about that terrible flood and how they had to evacuate so quickly. That experience truly made a mark on the Ramirez family for many years. Jo worked as a waitress her entire working career. As a young girl, Jo worked in Oklahoma City at the City diner then moved back home to Carnegie where she worked at Williams' Cafe for many years. Her last job before retiring was at the Rock Island Café. She was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters. She is survived by one son: Richard Ramirez, of Carnegie, OK; two daughters: Chris Ellis and husband Phil, of Frederick, OK, and Julia Orebaugh, of Indianapolis, IN; two brothers: Frank Ramirez, of El Paso, TX, and Polo Ramirez, of Verden, OK; three sisters: Juanita Sven, of Torrance, CA, Luz Jaime, of Oklahoma City, OK, and Estella Kuzmic, of Oklahoma City, OK; five grandchildren: Lee Orebaugh and wife Lisa, Nicole Horse, Taylar Ramirez, Lauren Garza and husband Justin, and Michael Ellis; and eight great grandchildren. Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home (580) 335-2112