December 29, 1932 - March 28, 2022
Along with her twin Tommie, Maria “Esther” Ramirez was born December 29, 1932, on a farm south of Loveland, Colorado, to Miguel and Josefa Ramirez. She passed on March 28, 2022.
Growing up in a migrant family, she did not attend school regularly as she and the older daughters helped care for their younger siblings while the rest of the family worked the fields and orchards of northern Colorado and Wyoming. She worked for many years at Loveland Steam Laundry and later at Silverthorne Elementary in Silverthorne Colorado. Over the years she also provided childcare for family and friends.
Her younger brothers could count on her to help them with school expenses and transportation so that they could participate in high school sports and other activities.
She married Bill Miller in 1969 and they lived in Loveland and then in Summit County Colorado until his death in 1983 when she returned to Loveland to help care for her mother, brothers, and the family garden on East 4th Street. She worked for Thompson School District in the cafeteria and worked several housekeeping jobs. Like her father, mother, and siblings, Esther had a strong work ethic.
Esther was an avid baseball fan and enjoyed watching the Colorado Rockies. She never missed an opportunity to see the Yankees when they played at Coors Field.
She moved into Good Samaritan Society-Loveland Village, in June 2020, and looked forward to “window” visits with family and close friends, until COVID restrictions were lifted enough for in- person visits, which brightened her day. Her brothers took her to the family home on 4th Street on Saturday March 19, 2022 for a family visit with her sister Rose and others. Her health declined very quickly that following week and she passed on Monday the 28th.
She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers Louis (Annie, deceased), Cap, Inez, Mike Jr., and Tony (Judy, of Little Rock Arkansas), and sisters, Virginia Kilpatrick (Jefferson of Lubbock, Texas), Tomasa Ramirez, Theresa Scott (Randall, deceased,) Barbara Christine and Magdalena Ramirez (Cary Nickolls, deceased). Esther missed her daily phone chats with Virginia and her Saturday calls with Tony.
She is survived by her daughter Barb Musslewhite (Jim) of Fort Collins, her brothers, John, Walt and Rich Ramirez all of Loveland, and sisters, Rose Kage (Claude Jr., deceased) of Fort Lupton, and Elaine Pollard of Loveland. Her step son Jimmy Miller (Sue) of Spring, Texas, her twin’s son Eugene Baird (Lynda) of Evans Colorado, numerous relatives, and her fur babies Tiana and Pumpkin, also survive her.
If one wishes, contributions can be made to Good Samaritan Loveland Village or Loveland-Berthoud Meals on Wheels c/o Kibbey –Fishburn.
Viewing Tuesday April 5, 2022 3-6 pm, Vigil at 6 pm, Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, 1102 N. Lincoln Avenue, Loveland CO.
Funeral mass Wednesday April 6, 2022, 10 am, Saint John the Evangelist Parish, 1730 W. 12th Street, Loveland, CO. LIVESTREAM link: https://youtu.be/BDiq6byICt0
Burial follows mass at Loveland Burial Park, 1702 N. Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, CO.
Luncheon at Saint John’s following burial.
The family wishes to thank:
Meals on Wheels of Loveland- Berthoud, Dr. Sunderman and staff at Banner Health Clinic of Loveland, Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, McKee Medical Center, Berthoud Care and Rehabilitation, UHC-Optum Nurse Practitioners, Pathways Hospice, Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, and especially ALL the staff at Good Samaritan Society-Loveland Village, for their compassionate care of Esther, and support for the family.
