Marilyn Margaret Lamb Ranson
December 25, 1934 – Nov. 4, 2025
Marilyn Margaret Lamb Ranson peacefully finished her earthly journey November 4, 2025, with her family around her.
She was the second of three girls born to Guy and Margaret (Zelio) Lamb on Dec. 25, 1934, in Coquille, Oregon.
She is preceded in death by her older sister Colleen and her husband Jim Bergamaschi. She is survived by her younger sister Kathy Grieve and is preceded in death by her brother-in-law Bill Grieve.
As a young girl, Marilyn moved with her family to Ceres where she resided until her marriage. In elementary school, she was active in Girl Scouts. In high school she was active in sports as well as being a yell leader. As a teenager, she and sister Kathy both had horses and belonged to the Ceres Vaqueros Riding Club, where she participated in the drill team and performed at many events as well as parades. She also barrel raced her horse. Her one chore every Saturday was to clean her horse stall, which she and her sister didn’t look forward to doing. Her father nicknamed her “Mike” as she also performed many duties to help him around the family dairy. She graduated from Ceres High School in 1953.
Marilyn married Albert James Ranson, Sr. of New Orleans, La. on Dec. 16, 1955, at St John’s Catholic Church in Ceres. They made their home in New Orleans where they were parishioners of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church of Algiers, La.
The marriage was blessed with three children, Julia Marie (Ranson) Montoya, Albert James (Jim) Ranson, Jr., and Steven Andrew Ranson Sr. They relocated to Ceres in 1973 and owned a Texaco service station in Modesto. They were faithful parishioners of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Ceres.
She retired as an endodontist assistant for Dr. Swartz in 1985.
Following their example of love and devotion, Julia married Joe Montoya; Jim married Carmen Rincon (deceased) and later Beverly Tenfingers, Steven married Lisa Lorance.
Seven grandchildren, Jennie, Kimberly, Andrew, Susan, Shelby, David, and Heaven; and 10 great- grandchildren Alyssa, Zack, Angelina, Anthony, Mathis, Caleb, Anna, Micah, Isaac, and Drew were her pride and joy.
After Albert retired from Proctor & Gamble, they relocated to Mariposa in 1993. They were again faithful parishioners of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mariposa and spent their retirement serving others at the Mariposa Museum & History Center as docents. They were active members of the American Legion, Mariposa chapter, and Marilyn was a member of the Fremont Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary. They also were members of the Good Sam’s RV club.
They enjoyed their years traveling together to Europe, Asia, and Mexico as well as to their favorite places like Coos Bay, Oregon and Gulfport, Mississippi. She was happiest when she prepared meals for her family to enjoy around her.
As the years passed and health declined, they moved to Lawton, Oklahoma in 2014 to live with their youngest son, Steven and his wife, Lisa. Their daughter, Julie and husband Joe also made the move to assist in caring for them. Additionally, their granddaughter, Shelby Cunningham faithfully cared for her grandparents while Steven and Lisa were at work. They were again faithful parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church.
Albert preceded Marilyn in death after 62 wonderful years together in 2018.
A memorial mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton (date to be determined) and final internment will be beside the love of her life at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Mariposa in the spring of 2026.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that all contributions may be made to the Mariposa Museum & History Center, 5119 Jessie St, Mariposa, CA 95338.
– Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
