Faith and gratitude led Guy Neil Ramsey to a life of stewardship

By Sean Gallagher

Guy Neil Ramsey, a longtime Catholic philanthropic leader in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, died on July 30. He was 96.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Aug. 2 at St. Paul Church in Tell City. Burial followed at St. Mary Cemetery in Tell City.

Ramsey was born on Aug. 8, 1927, in Cloverport, Ky., and later grew up in southern Indiana. He graduated from the former Cannelton High School in Cannelton and studied at Indiana University before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1945 shortly after the end of World War II.

He married LaVerne Roose in 1951. The couple was married for 68 years before LaVerne’s passing in 2019.

While Ramsey was not raised in the Catholic faith, it was LaVerne’s witness of her own faith that led him to be received into the full communion of the Church.

Of her influence on him, Ramsey said, “I married a super Catholic. She is Catholic through and through. And she and the Church have really made my life what it is today. I have nothing but appreciation for what God has done for me and the kind of life I’ve been able to live.”

The couple had six children together, all of whom survive.

Ramsey had a long and successful career in commercial construction and real estate development.

His success in business and his embrace of the Catholic faith led Ramsey to contribute much to the ministry of both St. Paul Parish in Tell City, where he and LaVerne were longtime members, and to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He also provided leadership in stewardship in the archdiocese, previously serving on the Catholic Community Foundation’s board of trustees and the United Catholic Appeal’s steering committee.

“He was a man of tremendous faith who sought to lead his family and others to a personal encounter with Jesus,” said Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. “As such, he was fully committed to the mission of salvation in Christ. He truly lived his baptismal call to holiness and mission through both worship and service.

“His life was marked by great courage, integrity, generosity and conviction as a devout Catholic. He will be greatly missed but not forgotten. We keep his family in prayer.”

Jolinda Moore, executive director for the archdiocesan Secretariat for Stewardship and Development, described Ramsey as “a philanthropist who openly shared that his ability to give so generously was a gift from God.”

“Guy Neil and his late wife made giving to the Church a priority as they witnessed how seeds of generosity and grace could impact change,” Moore continued. “The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has been blessed by Mr. Ramsey’s deep faith and love of community. He will truly be missed.”

Surviving are Ramsey’s six children: Lisa Acchiardo, Mary Grace, Chris, Dennis, Mark and Neil Ramsey. Also surviving is a sister, Jean Zellers, and 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul Parish, 814 Jefferson St., Tell City, IN 47586. †