James Andrew "Jim" Ramey

Feb 19, 1958 -

Nov 5, 2020

James Andrew "Jim" Ramey, age 62, passed away suddenly on Nov. 5, 2020, at his home in Covington, Wash. He was the last of three children born to Ralph and Jean Ramey in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up exploring Central Ohio from his homes in Upper Arlington and later Yellow Springs. While in high school he worked at the Yellow Springs Bike Shop where he developed his love of bikes and mechanical work.

Like his father, uncle and older brother, Jim spent summers working at YMCA Camp Willson in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was active in the Columbus Council of American Youth Hostels, where he went on biking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing, backpacking and caving adventures. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in wildlife management.

After graduation Jim joined his brother John in Alaska. He worked a summer at remote Melozi Hot Springs and then at outdoor retailer REI. Jim was an experienced whitewater canoeist, enjoying short technical day trips as well as more extended remote trips in Alaska and Northern Canada. He was active in the local Knik Canoers & Kayakers club, teaching classes and helping run whitewater slalom races.

After Alaska, Jim lived in Spokane, Wash., where he met and married his wife Karyn in 1989, then moved to California, where he worked for REI and Western Mountaineering. The two moved to the Maple Valley/Kent area south of Seattle in the fall of 1998. He worked retail in the outdoors industry at REI and Marmot Mountain Works before becoming a manufacturer's rep for major brands like Old Town and Esquif canoes, Necky and Boreal kayaks, Alpina skis/boots, MTI lifejackets and many more watersport brands. He got great satisfaction from sharing his wealth of knowledge with the manufacturers and retailers with whom he worked.

For the past 35-some years, his wife Karyn was his constant adventure partner, along with their daughter Lauryn, born in 2004. They kept busy and active through whitewater paddling, riding their tandem bicycle, downhill skiing, lake canoeing, ocean kayaking, SUP paddling and car camping.

Jim loved to work in his shop and always had numerous projects underway, from the ever-present home maintenance to old equipment he brought home just for the joy of bringing it back to life. He left his garage and shop full of future projects.

Jim is survived by his mother, Jean Ramey of Federal Way, Wash.; wife, Karyn and daughter, Lauryn of Covington; brother, John and his wife Diane of Anchorage; nieces, Kalen and Tristan; and nephew, Tanner, all of Anchorage. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph; and sister, Carolyn.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held in Anchorage, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. For details, please contact JimRamey.Celebration@gmail.com.