Sycamore feels loss of Mayor Ramsey

By Paul Kirk

When a community member dies in a town the size of Sycamore, all feel the grief and sorrow which accompanies death, especially when that member is the mayor.

For the second time in less than six months, the town of Sycamore must begin to piece things back together after the death of a government official.

Funeral services for deceased Mayor B. Phillip Ramsey will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. at Federated Church in Sycamore Thursday.

In addition to the funeral service, there will be visitation at Quiram’s Funeral Home from 3:00 until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday.

First Ward Alderman Bernie McMillan will assume the duties of mayor in Sycamore, City Clerk Gail Brantner said.

“Bernie will be sworn in at the next council meeting, and will choose a replacement (for the first ward aldermanic position) the meeting after that,” she said.

McMillan returned to Sycamore from his trip to Florida early Monday afternoon, Brantner said.

“Bernie will spend much of Tuesday and Thursday at the municipal building trying to get things organized, and talking to department heads,” she said.

Ramsey, 65, of Sycamore, died Sunday in his home of a heart attack.

He was an alderman of Sycamore for 18 years. Ramsey assumed the office of mayor in September 1991 after deceased Mayor Harold “Red” Johnson died of a heart attack.

Ramsey was born Jan. 4, 1927, in Springfield, Mo. He married Rosemary M. Bolinger in DunKirk, Ind., in 1949. He is survived by his wife and three children.