Funeral services for James Ramer, 79, of Lufkin, will be held Saturday, December 30, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Lamasco Baptist Church in Lamasco, Texas with Bro. Jim Housley, Ivan Ramer and Rodney Stromland officiating. Interment will follow at the Lamasco Cemetery.

          Mr. Ramer was born August 6. 1938 in Goshen, Indiana, the son of the late Mervin Ramer and Susie S. Martin, and died Tuesday, December 19, 2017 in Lufkin.

          He was a member of Heritage Baptist Church. James loved his Savior, his family, his church, good preaching, good singing, and helping others.  He grew up in the Mennonite community in Indiana. Mr. Ramer’s family spoke Pennsylvania Dutch until they moved to Arkansas when he was 13 years old. He moved to Texas in 1953. Mr. Ramer worked for Julian Barry Construction in Dallas for over 20 years and was self-employed as a trim carpenter for numerous years before moving to Lufkin in 1990. He liked construction and fixing things. Mr. Ramer made a cherry picker out of wood for a parade float for Temple and Associates. He restored the outside of the caboose at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin. Mr. Ramer and his wife, Margaret, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on August 15, 2017. They spent most of their married life in Dallas, Texas, where they raised their 4 children.

          He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ramer of Lufkin; children and spouses, Steven and Shae Ramer of Tyler, TX, Timothy Ramer of Alabama, Deanna and Doug Gibson of Telephone, TX, and Cindy and Clarence Johnson of Castro Valley, CA; grandchildren, Stephanie Clay, Jordan Gibson, Bret Ramer, Jedidiah Gibson, Hope Kresge, Joel Gibson Grace Hurst, and Josiah Gibson; great-grandchildren, Hayden Hurst, and Kinsley Kresge; siblings, Eva Neckels and husband, Cecil of Montana, Priscilla Gowan and husband, Leslie of Arizona, Rachel Ramer and husband, Ivan of Canada, Martha Aycock and husband, Rich of California, Ruth Stromland and husband, Rodney of Arkansas, Joanna Penrod of Indiana, Paul Ramer and wife, Pat of Indiana, Susie Whirledge and husband, Bruce of Indiana, John Ramer and wife, Nancy of Texas, Stephen Ramer and wife, Sandra of Texas, Jason Ramer and wife, Tina of Texas, Luke Ramer and wife, Kaye of Texas, Danny Ramer and wife, Lorene of Texas, and Faith Mobley and husband, Randy of Oklahoma; in-laws, David Coleman and wife, Henrietta of Lufkin, and Gertrude Ramer of Missouri; along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

          Mr. Ramer is preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Lillie Faye Blackburn Friday; and siblings, Mary Edna Ramer, Samuel Ramer, Phoebe Beachy, and David Ramer

          Pallbearers will be Jordan Gibson, Bret Ramer, Jedidiah Gibson, Joel Gibson, Josiah Gibson, and Nick Kresge.

          Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Clay, Clarence Johnson, and Doug Gibson.

          Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2017 at the Lamasco Baptist Church.

          Shafer Funeral Home, directors.

 Service Information