Duel Thurlow Ramsey, 78, of Lowell, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, Arkansas.

Duel was born on August 6, 1932 in Wayton, AR, a son of Connie K. and Nancy L. (Vaughn) Ramsey. He married Ruby Lue Reynolds on January 1, 1957.

Duel retired from Daisy Manufacturing in Rogers, AR.
He was a Deacon at Rogers Freewill Baptist Church and he loved church, riding his four-wheeler on his farm and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Ercie Ramsey, Cecil Ramsey, Silva Ramsey and Shirley Ramsey; two sisters, Essie Daniels and Buna Tennison.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ruby Ramsey, of the home; a son, Kirby W. Ramsey of Lowell, AR; three daughters, Beverly J. Fulkerson of Pea Ridge, AR, Barbara J. Fields and Janet R. Heidelbach both of Lowell, AR; eight grandchildren, Matthew Fields, Tiffany Heidelbach, Melody Sawyers, Jeremy Ramsey, Andrea Holland, Kyle Ramsey, Dylan Fulkerson and Derek Ramsey; eight great grandchildren; two brothers, J.W. Ramsey of Little Flock, AR and Shelley Ramsey of Lowell, AR; two sisters, Adella Willis of Deer, AR and Beatrice Carter of Parthenon, AR. Duel left behind family and friends too numerous to count.

Visitation will be held at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home, 2230 N Thompson, in Springdale, AR on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 6pm to 8pm.

Services will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 10:00am at Rogers Freewill Baptist Church, 900 S. Dixieland Rd, with Brother Eddie Davis and Brother Brad Spurlock officiating the service. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers and the honorary pallbearers will be Harold Hodge, Willis (Buster) Walker and Larry McGlocklin. Committal service to follow at Wilson Cemetery, Lowell, Arkansas

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A story told to me by Duel's wife...
For a long time Duel and Ruby heated with wood and Duel was never the one to build the fire, Ruby was. One cool day Ruby had been gone from home and came back to find Duel's hair smoked, singed and sticking out every which way. His eyebrows were gone. After making sure he was alright she got the 'rest' of the story.
Seems he'd gotten chilly while she was gone and decided that he'd just build a fire. He went out to the shed and got some 'starting' fluid to get the fire going quickly. He'd forgotten that Ruby had told him to never, ever put any kind of starter on live coals.
He bent and splashed some of the fluid onto the coals, WOOOF, the fluid caught fire and flashed out the door of the stove into his face. Thus the singed hair and missing eyebrows. He was no worse for wear but after that he seldom attempted to build a fire again. He usually left that job to Ruby.

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Every time Duel and Ruby would come into the revenue office where I work they'd always stop by the counter and say hi to me. If it were at all possible I'd run around the counter and get a hug from both of them. They have always been more like an aunt and uncle to me than cousins. I'm related to Duel on daddy's side, they were first cousins and to Ruby on mommie's side from two different lines. The last time I saw Duel was there in the office at the end of 2010. He'd come in with his son Kirby and Kirby's son to get his first drivers license. Duel came to me at the counter and we talked for a few minutes. He told me that he was going in for surgery the 11th of January in Little Rock. He tired out easily that day and after just a bit he went to one of the chairs in the lobby and sat back down. Since it was a slow day and there were no customers to speak of... I took a break and went out and sat with Duel and we talked for 15 or 20 minutes. He always loved to tell me stories of when he and daddy were young and the things they did. I could've set and listened to him for hours. Whenever his grandson's license was printed and ready we stood for him to leave and I got a big hug as usual and an 'I love you' from him. Just like always.
That was the last time I saw him. That's one break that I'll be forever grateful that I took. That visit with Duel is something that I'll hold in my heart as a special memory for the rest of my life.
Duel was such a special man. I loveyou xOx

I thank God upon my every remembrance of you

╔╗╔╗╔╗╔═╦ ♥. .☆.......•*¨`*•
╠╣║║║╦╠═║✫ (¯`'•.¸ //(*_*) ¸.•'´¯)
╝╚╩║╚╝╚═╚═╝❤✫ƸӜƷ *`• .…* * *.•
.•*"˜˜"*°•. ˜"*°•♥•°*"˜ .•°*"˜˜"*°•.


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When you remember me,
it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are.
It means that you can summon me back to your mind
even though countless years and miles may stand between us.
It means that if we meet again, you will know me.
It means that even after I die,
you can still see my face and hear my voice
and speak to me in your heart.
For as long as you remember me,
I am never entirely lost.

12.24.2013

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The Little Ship
I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea.
The setting sun tinted his white sails with a golden light, and as he disappeared from sight a voice at my side whispered, "He is gone".
But the sea was a narrow one.
On the farther shore a little band of friends had gathered to watch and wait in happy expectation.
Suddenly they caught sight of the tiny sail and at the very moment when my companion had whispered, "He is gone" a glad shout went up in joyous welcome, "Here he comes!"

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God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be.
So He put his arms around you
and whispered "Come with Me."
With tearful eyes we watched you
and saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

~author unknown

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Little did we know that day
that our Lord would call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,
though you did not go alone,
for part of us went with you
the day God called you home.

Our family chain is broken
and nothing seems the same
but as God calls us one by one
the chain will link again

~author unknown

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Perhaps you aren't ready yet
to have to say good-bye…
Perhaps you've thought of things
you wish you'd said and so have I.
For one thing, I have told you
not to worry about me…
I'm with the Lord in Heaven now;
you knew that's where I'd be.
I'm sorry that you're feeling sad,
for I am so happy now…
I've asked the Lord to ease the hurt
and comfort you somehow.
It's hard in the beginning,
but I know you'll make it through.
I hope it helps to know that
I'll be waiting here for you.

~author unknown

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A limb has fallen from the family tree;
I keep hearing a voice that says "Grieve not for me".

Remember the best times, the laughter, the songs.
The good of my life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage. I'm counting on you.
Keep on smiling and surely the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest,
remembering all...how I was truly blessed.

Continue traditions, no matter how small,
go on with your life. Don't stare at the wall.

I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin,
until the day comes that we're together again.

~author unknown

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When I get where I'm going,
on the far side of the sky,
The first thing that I'm gonna to do
is spread my wings and fly.
I'm going to land beside a lion
and run my fingers through his mane
or I might find out what it's like
to ride a drop of rain.
When I get where I'm going
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
and I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going
don't cry for me down here.

Song by: Brad Paisley

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"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal...
love leaves a memory no one can steal."
~ From a gravestone in Ireland

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For all those who loved Duel...

Thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday,
and days before that too.
I think of you in silence,
I often speak your name.
All I have are memories
and a picture in a frame.
Your memory is a keepsake, w
ith which I'll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
I have you in my heart.

~author unknown

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If Duel could speak to his loved ones...
I think he'd say something like this...

To Those I Love

When I am gone release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears
be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess
how much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown
but now it's time to travel on alone.

So grieve awhile for me if you must
then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It's only for ahile that we must part
so bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for your life goes on,
so if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near
and if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
all my love around you, soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way alone
I'll greet you with a hug and a 'Welcome Home'.

~author unknown

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Sunshine fades and shadows fall,
But memories of you outlast them all.
Unseen, unheard, you're always near,
Still loved,
still missed,
still oh so very dear.

~author unknown

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The Rose
~ by Bette Midler

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you it's only seed.

It's the heart, afraid of breaking,
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking,
That never takes a chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dyin',
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely,
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love,
In the spring becomes the rose

♥ "never do I doubt that in the Spring
with the Son's love, Duel will bloom again" ♥

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gently they go,
the beautiful,
the tender,
the kind...
I know.
But I do not approve.
I am not resigned...
~ by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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"What was good, and what was ill,
what would save and what would kill.
Thus gone, amongst you I may live,
and dead, yet speak and counsel give.
Farewell, my birds, farewell, adieu,
I happy am, if well with you."
~ Anne Bradstreet

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for Duel's babies...
Beverly, Barbara, Janet & Kirby

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
╔══╗
╚╗╔╝
╔╝(¯`v´¯)
╚══`My Daddy

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April 11, 2011

There are times I find myself thinking of Duel coming into the revenue with Ruby, of him always coming by to say hi or talk if we had a few minutes. I find myself crying... I know that mixed in there somewhere are tears for my own daddy. I know deep in my heart that I'm crying for eight babies that have lost their daddy... For me, my brothers and sister and Duel's four babies, Beverly, Barbara, Janet and Kirby. I'm crying for all of us.
As an adult my head understands the way life works... birth, childhood, adulthood, older years and death. Yes, my head understands, but my heart rages, 'NO!'. As my daddy's child, I want my daddy back. I don't want him to be gone. I want him to live forever. I WANT HIM BACK HERE WITH ME!!
I know daddy would tell me in his patient way, "Baby, you know that's not the way it works, I'm supposed to die before you, you're supposed to out-live me."
I know daddy but losing you hurts too much, even if I am an adult, it still hurts my 'little girl' heart.
I believe that daddy and Duel would both tell us that they have followed a path set down from ages past. They, in the natural order of things are meant to go on ahead of us. That's the way that they'd want it. That's the way they both lived their lives. They did their best to set a path for their babies to follow throughout their lives. Even in death they leave a trail for us to follow.
It reminds me of how daddy would lead us when we were kids. Specifically when we'd go to the cellar. He would always go ahead of us with the ole kerosene lantern. He knew the path to the cellar door by heart, he didn't need the light of the lantern nearly as much as us kids did. He'd go ahead a few steps and hold the lantern up and to the side so we'd be able to see the way to follow him, be able to see the path better in the dark, not stumble over a rock and maybe fall. And as long as he was moving, we were right behind him, trusting that he'd never, ever lead us on the wrong path or into something that would harm us. Mommie was always there behind us to make sure none of us strayed from the path, to reasure us to keep moving forward. Together they took us along a dark and sometimes scary path, through a raging storm, crashing thunder and blinding lightening to a place of safety, warmth and light.
The way they raised us was in their own way, a way of trying to show us a clear path also, to try and steer us clear of the storms of life. Sometimes I followed, sometimes I didn't, but I have always been able to look back and see that the path they'd 'lit' for me was always there, just sometimes I chose not to follow it.
I know that my Father in heaven did the same thing for Duel and daddy. He went ahead to make sure that the path was safe, that it was lit with a guiding light and if they stumbled He'd be there waiting when they righted themselves and started once more down the path He'd left for them. He prepared a place for them also.
I believe with all my heart that they are both in that wonderful, safe place, a place filled with so much love and light that as humans we can't concieve of its brilliance.
As humans we can only stand in faith and believe that the path daddy and Duel have left for us leads us on into a place of eternal safety, warmth and love.
Wait for us... with arms wide open... wait for us...

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