MEREDITH CENTER ---- John Wood Ramsay, 81, died peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, November 14, 2023, at Laconia Genesis in Laconia, NH.
John was born on September 28, 1942, in Laconia, NH, to Elmer and Catherine (Wood) Ramsay of Academy Street in Laconia
John attended St. Joseph Elementary School and graduated from Laconia High School in 1960. He attended Norwich University from 1961-1962 where he met Helen Pollard.
John and Helen married in 1962 and started their family in Laconia. Mark was born in 1962 and James in 1964. In 1965 John and his family moved to Vermont where his daughter Katherine was born, and he became a Vermont State Trooper. In 1969 John started his career as a VT State Liquor Investigator from which he retired after 29 years.
John married Cheryl Henson on July 16, 1988. John and Cheryl went on a much-enjoyed trip to Greece in 1993, including a cruise to several islands with Santorini being a favorite.
After retiring from Liquor Control in 1998, he and Cheryl moved to their retirement home in Meredith Center, NH on Lake Wicwas. His favorite pastime was boating on the lake in his pontoon boat. In retirement he worked at Hart's Restaurant in catering. He enjoyed his work carving turkeys and especially socializing with the patrons on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. John was a lifetime member of the Elks-Montpelier Lodge #924/Laconia Lodge #876, the Masons Aurora Lodge #22 F&AM of Montpelier, VT, the Sons of the American Legion-Meredith, the Wicwas Grange #292, and the Vermont Police Association.
John is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cheryl (Henson) Ramsay, son Mark Ramsay and his wife Anne of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, son James Ramsay and Jenny Giraldo of Manchester, NH, daughter Katherine Tevnan and her husband John of South Weymouth, MA, grandchildren: Brendan Ramsay, Philip Ramsay, Samantha Ramsay, Katelynn Ramsay, John E. Tevnan, IV, Elizabeth (Tevnan) Lefebvre, Erin Tevnan, Matthew Tevnan, seven great-grandchildren, and his older brother Dexter Ramsay of Florida. He was predeceased by his sister Patricia Lachance and brother-in-law Leo of Laconia, sister-in-law Ellie Ramsay and his parents Elmer Ramsay and Catherine (Wood) Ramsay.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 from 1:00-3:00pm in the Carriage House at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.
John will be laid to rest in the South Walden, VT Cemetery in Cheryl's family plot, alongside Cheryl's mom Muriel, whom he loved dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that donations be made in John’s memory to the John Ramsay Memorial Scholarship, 14 Country Club Road Suite 9, Gilford, NH 03249, to benefit a local student wishing to continue their education in the field of Criminal Justice.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation
Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with
arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit
wilkinsonbeane.com.