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Jim Ramos' Obituary - Written in 2006
In 2006, a young Jim Ramos was a youth pastor and thought he always would be. He did an exercise that he now recommends to every young man - he wrote his own obituary.
The result was a God-breathed document that has proven to be prophetic. He can't read it without crying. It's hard to believe it, but at the time of this writing, he was NOT working with men!
"After a time of prayer and worship James William Ramos, 93, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, surrounded by his wife, and family in their family home in San Luis Obispo, California. He returned to the place of his birth after leaving it in 2003 to pursue his life calling to 'make a difference in the lives of teens.' Jim moved his family to McMinnville, where he was at the Youth Pastor Church on the Hill until June of 2011 when resigned to volunteer. He would work as avolunteer youth worker for nearly a decade traveling the country to promote his first devotional book for the Christian man called the 'The Great Hunt for God.'
The success of that booked inspired a resurgence of 'unapologetic biblical masculinity' in the northwest that swept across the country. Jim continued to write, publishing over 20 books in his lifetime focused on helping pastors and men, speaking in every state across the U.S. and writing a daily devotional on biblical masculinity to an E-audience of over a million people—half being women.
Jim and Shanna traveled the country writing, speaking, and encouraging men and their wives for the next twenty-five years until moving back to their hometown of San Luis Obispo, Caifornia to 'slow it down a bit', Shanna recalls. Obsessed with finishing strong Jim would spend his final nearly two decades mentoring young men in ministry, speaking on biblical masculinity, and finishing several more published works.
Jim loved to hunt and spent much of his time mentoring his sons on their numerous African Safaris and backpack trips into the Alaskan Wilderness.
When asked what his greatest accomplishment in life were, Jim smiled and said, 'Being faithful to Shanna, raising three godly sons, and finishing strong.' When asked what one sentence would define his life and message he shot back, 'You don’t have to be the best. You just have to outlast the rest.'
He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Shanna who up until the day he died called her the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on. He is survived by his three sons: The always outspoken about his Christian faith, Coach James Ramos (64) of the Seattle Seahawks, Reverend Darby Ramos (62) founding pastor of Northwest Community Church the largest Nazarene Church in the denomination and one of the largest churches in the northwest, and ex-MLB star Colton Ramos (60) the recently appointed president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jim is survived by his sons, 9 grandsons all of which are serving the Lord, 14 great grandsons and 9 great-granddaughters.
Oldest son James stated with his contagious smile, 'Dad just wouldn’t stop. It drove mom crazy. Until the day he died, he kept writing, speaking, telling us he just wanted to die well and finish strong. He was the greatest model of biblical manhood a son could have had. But he never did learn how to type!'
Middle son Darby said, 'Dad was my mentor, hunting partner, hero, and the greatest example of Jesus I ever met. He inspired me. See ya soon old man!'
Youngest son Colton stated, 'I got to spend mylife with the greatest man I’ve ever known. He loved mom, us, and God’s will until his final breath. You did it dad!'"
Tips for Writing Your Obituary
NOTE: The difference between a eulogy and an obituary is what they are intended for. A eulogy is a reading given to honor the life of the deceased, usually at the funeral. An obituary is more of an announcement or notice of death to inform people and take a look back at the details and history of the deceased’s life.