He got his commercial pilot license at 18 and was a crop duster for 68 years. He eventually started his own business, Aero-Ag, during the last 50 years of his career before selling four years ago. He is the last of the original Garwood Fliers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lucy “Melinda” Hoover Ramsey; foster daughter Deloris Ann Hermes & her son Johnny Hermes, in-laws Rosemary Ellen Hoover Slubar & Ginger June Hoover Dodson; nephews Earl Clifford Butler IV, Dennis Joseph Slubar “Dusty” & his son Brian Windsor Slubar.

He is survived by his daughters Sarah Ellen Kretschmer Perry & husband Jimmy of Altair, and Deborah Ann Kretschmer of Garwood; son James Russell Kretschmer of Houston; granddaughters Kara Suzanne Bennett-Perry McKay & husband Timothy of Brackettville, Tiffany Kaye Perry Ehrlich & husband Clayton of Richmond, Morgan Dianne Perry Hadley & husband Russell of Rosenberg; Taylor Kaytlyn Haman of Rosenberg; Cari Dawn Haman of Giddings; grandsons Zach Perry & wife Gaby of Goodrich; Kenny Kretschmer & fiancé Aymara Rivero of Austin; Garrett Haman & his fiancé Ashley Simpkins of Garwood; great-grandchildren Jakob Supak of Eagle Lake, Zane Supak of Brackettville, Easton Ehrlich & Ruby Ehrlich of Richmond, Riley Hadley of Rosenberg, Asia Feagaismaalii of Hawaii, Cheyenne Haman of Conroe, Scarlett King of Oakland, Dancy & Malachi Smith of Rosenberg, Mikey & Kyle Haman of Giddings; sister Marilyn Kay Ramsey Butler & husband Earl Clifford Butler III of Palestine, brother in-laws: Russell Henry William “Ben” Hoover, Jr., and Dennis Joseph Slubar both of Brackettville; nephews John Michael Butler, Richard Slubar & Dennis Dodson; nieces Lisa Eisterhold Butler, Rose Garza & husband Mario, Dawn Shewbart, Brenda Dodson Morelli, and many great nieces and nephews and their children.

Visitation for family and friends will be 4 pm to 6 pm Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Triska Funeral Home. Graveside services under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge will be 2 pm Friday, August 9, 2024, at Lehrer Cemetery in Garwood. Serving as pallbearers are Zach Perry, Kenny Kretschmer, Garrett Haman, Clayton Ehrlich, Russell Hadley, Jakob Supak, and Zane Supak. Honorary pallbearers are Clifford Kidd, David Miculka, Madison Smith, Ronnie Gold, Richard Slubar and Dustin Slubar. Donations in memory of John “Mike” Ramsey may be made to the Garwood Volunteer Fire Dept or donor’s choice.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.triskafuneralhome. com.