Sharon Melinda Ramirez

Sharon Melinda Ramirez (Waa Gaa Nong Equay, “Morning Star Woman”), 45, of Cass Lake, formerly of Red Lake, died Friday, July 29, 2011, at Cass Lake Hospital.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cass Lake. A wake will begin at 10 a.m. today, July 31, at the Veterans Memorial Building and continue until the funeral on Monday. Burial will be in Fineday Cemetery in Pennington under the direction of Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

She was born June 1, 1966, to Joseph Howard and Rose (Dick) Reed in Red Lake. She was raised in Minneapolis. She married Juan Ramirez and they moved to Mexico, then Texas. She most recently moved to Cass Lake. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Davlonda Howard; Cynthia Ramirez, Juan Ramirez and Erika Ramirez; her mother; brothers, Edward Howard, John Dick and Willard Reed; sisters, Elizabeth Howard and Joelyn Greenleaf; and three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father; husband; sister, Sandra Howard; brothers, Doug, Dick and Richard Howard; and a nephew.

Pallbearers will be Willard Reed, Adrian Dunn, Roberto Gomez, Dale Smith, John Elmberg, Robert Elmbert, Tum-Tum Elmberg, Harold Elmberg and J.R. Dick.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jean Auginash, Jackie Fineday, Larissa Howard, April Greenleaf, Priscilla Zeck, Delores Fineday, Tammi Adams, Vicki Howard, Maria Cloud, Kimberly Dick and Elissa Reed.

Messages of condolence may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.