Ramey was born in Terre Haute, and graduated from Indiana State with a degree in radio before moving to California. She was hired as secretary at an Oakland radio station and became program manager. Later, she moved to KGO TV in 1952 and became the first woman news anchor in the western U.S. as co-anchor of the noon news for KPIX-TV, San Francisco. In 1967, she served as correspondent for Voice of America and National Educational television (PBS). The recipient of many awards, Ramey died at the age of 84 in 2009.