The couple had been enjoying a getaway when their camper was quickly overtaken by flash flooding. It was carried nearly 26 feet downstream in just 45 minutes. Tanya’s body has since been recovered, but the search for Jeff is ongoing. Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the family takes some comfort in knowing Jeff's final acts were full of love, selflessness, and protection.
Jake Ramsey, 24, said his father called him first. “He left me a voicemail saying, ‘Hey buddy, I love you so much. I think this is it for us. Tell Rache-y I love her,’” Jake shared. “I listened to the message, and it broke me.”
Moments later, Rachel, 23, received her own message. By that time, their parents’ camper was already drifting downstream. The desperation and love in Jeff’s voice were unmistakable. “You could hear the panic,” said Jake. “We’ll never listen to those messages again, but we’ll always remember them.”
Before calling his children, Jeff made another crucial call — one that likely saved a life. He phoned Tanya’s brother, who was also camping nearby, to warn him about the rising water. Thanks to Jeff’s call, he was able to evacuate in time. “If Dad hadn’t warned him, he probably would’ve slept through it and been swept away too,” Jake said.
The family also discovered that an emergency alert message was sent out at 4:49 a.m., right around the time Jeff was making his calls. Jake found the alert while checking his father’s phone remotely. Although the timing raised initial frustration, Jake later said, “My dad always said, ‘God has plans for you. He calls us to trust Him no matter how terrible things get.’ I’m trying to live by that.”
Tanya, remembered for her kindness and resilience, had recently celebrated being one year cancer-free after battling breast cancer. She worked in client care, supporting women dealing with hair loss. Jeff, an insurance professional, volunteered extensively with organizations that supported veterans and amputees through fitness and recovery programs. Together, they made a lasting impact on their community.
Amid the devastation, there was one bright spot: Jeff’s beloved dog, Chloe, was found alive. The dog had been taken to an animal shelter and was identified via microchip. “She’s a little shaken, but getting back in the swing of things,” said Jake. Family and friends believe Jeff likely gave Chloe one last push to safety before the camper was fully overcome. “That’s probably how she made it,” Jake added.
As Jake reflects on his father’s final moments, he shares a message Jeff would want others to remember: “Treat every day like it’s your last. That is something he did. I’m so grateful he had such a great heart.”
Jeff Ramsey’s legacy is one of courage, selflessness, and unconditional love. In the face of an unimaginable disaster, his final choices — to protect his family and say goodbye with love — define a life well lived, even in its final moments.
