Jose Garcia Ramos

He was born in Kingsville, TX on Feb 2, 1946, to Pedro Hererra Ramos and Hortencia Garcia Ramos. He grew up in Kingsville and he had many good memories of the time he spent on the famous King Ranch. His father worked with the racehorses and as a boy he got to run the horses on the track. It was here he found his need for speed. The sound of the horses’ heavy breathing and their hooves hitting the dirt track in the early morning hours was one of his favorite memories. The rush he felt when he was riding these horses was indescribable. There was nothing like it. He dreaded the day that he would grow to be too big and heavy, and a smaller boy would be chosen to ride the horses.

In 1963 his family made the move from Kingsville to Salt Lake City. He had a job working on the King Ranch and he decided to stay behind. After his family was settled in Salt Lake City, he and his cousin Wally would make the trip from Kingsville to Salt Lake for a visit. The two of them would drive 1475 miles on a minibike stopping and resting at rest stops along the way. It was during this visit that Joe would meet a pretty little Irish girl that would become his wife of fifty-eight years. He would leave a piece of his heart in Texas and after a brief stay in California he would make Salt Lake City his home.

Joe and Freda would go on to have six children. Joe loved the Sand Dunes (Little Sahara recreation Area) this was truly his happy place. There were many camping trips as a family to the dunes. Joe built his first dune buggy in the mid 70’s. His need for speed went from running horses to horsepower! He liked everything fast and he liked it loud! He was very mechanically inclined. If it had an engine and it was not working, he could get it running better, faster and louder! He enjoyed the dunes up until the very end! At 77 years old you could still find him and his daughter Tina camping in his favorite spot, racing up the mountain in his dune buggy and riding around on his four-wheeler.

He is survived by his wife Freda, his children: Pauline (Shaun), Yolanda (Jeff), Mechelle (Matt), Mike (Robyn) and Tina. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, including his best little buddy great grandson Cam, one sister and 6 brothers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Seamues, his sisters: Lola and Norma.

Special Thanks to Yolanda, Mechelle and Tasia for their support and care during his final days.

Rest Easy Dad.

No public service will be held at his request.