"Poo Bare" at 17 served on all three ships and the P2V

Eulogy for Manuel Ramos Nabarrette or

as many came to know him as “Poo Bare”

 

Today, we gather to celebrate the life of an extraordinary man, my father, Manuel Ramos Nabarrette.

From a young age, Dad understood the value of hard work and family. As a boy, he would shine shoes at local bars to earn money to help support his parents and his family. Even then, he was learning lessons that would define the rest of his life—responsibility, sacrifice, and caring for the people he loved.

At just 17 years old, he left home and joined the United States Navy. It was a courageous decision for a young man from West Texas. He served aboard three different naval ships and later became part of a maritime patrol squadron flying P-2v aircraft. Stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, he participated in patrol missions, dropping sonar buoys to track enemy submarines during a time when service to our country required courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

 

When his military service ended, fate stepped in.

According to Dad, he was driving down the street one day when he saw a beautiful young woman. He pulled over, started talking to her, fell in love, and never looked back. That beautiful young woman was Sulema Nabarrette, who became the love of his life and his wife for 62 wonderful years.

Together, they built a life centered around faith, family, and love. They welcomed one son into the world—me, Manuel Nabarrette Jr.—and from there our family continued to grow.

“Poo Bare” had many hobbies throughout his life. He loved fishing, softball, racquetball, swimming, and scuba diving. In fact, he loved scuba diving so much that he became a scuba diving instructor.

But as the years passed, his favorite hobbies changed.

His favorite hobby became his granddaughter, Karina.

He taught her how to drive—which, depending on who you ask, may or may not have been a good idea.

 

He loved spending time with her, talking with her, and being part of her life. She brought him tremendous pride and joy.

Then came his newest favorite hobby—his great-grandson, Kash.

Or as Dad liked to call him, "Kash Such a wonderful boy." ‘ I just love that Kash”

 

If you spent more than a few minutes with “Poo Bare”, chances are you heard a story about Kash. He never stopped talking about him. He bragged about him constantly. He loved him deeply. Watching him become a great-grandfather was one of the greatest joys of his life.

 

“Poo Bare”  had a gift that many people spend their whole lives trying to develop. He made people feel important.

He never met a stranger. Whether you knew him for five minutes or fifty years, he treated you like family. He had an incredible sense of humor. He loved telling stories. He loved making people laugh. He could fill a room with joy simply by being himself.

He was also a man dedicated to serving others. Long after his military service ended, he continued giving back to his community. Through his work with the American Red Cross, where he served as a chairman for the national board of the American Red Cross, he dedicated himself to helping others and improving the lives of those around him While he worked as an inspector for Huntsman.

The truth is, “Poo Bare” was a person of impact.

Everywhere he went, people remembered him.

Every life he touched was made better because of his kindness, his generosity, his wisdom, and his humor.

As a husband, he was devoted.

As a father, he was steady and dependable.

As a grandfather and great-grandfather, he was loving and proud.

As a brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, he was loyal and caring.

Today, we mourn his loss, but we also celebrate a life that was truly well lived.

 

 

On the day of his passing, it was Father’s Day Around 11:30 at night Early on that Sunday morning he woke up he was doing great Get ready He was surprised by the woman that he called his “beautiful girl” His wife Sulema They had lunch together spend time together talking gazing at each other holding each other’s hands without a clue That he would wake up that glory.  This is how good God is that he gave them 8 hours together to relive their joy and happiness of 62 years to be able to see each other love each other and enjoy each other One last time before he went unto glory, he got to see is beautiful girl That’s how good God is Thank you Lord.

 

I would like to share something about God’s goodness!!!!!

On the day of his passing, it was Father's Day.

Early that Sunday morning, Dad woke up feeling well. He got ready for the day, not knowing what God had planned.

That day, he spent it with the woman he lovingly called his "beautiful girl"—his wife, Sulema.

They shared a meal together. They talked. They laughed. They sat together holding hands, looking into each other's eyes, just as they had done throughout their 62 years of marriage.

Neither of them knew that later that night, around 11:30, God would call him home.

When I think about that day, I am reminded of just how good God is.

Out of all the days God could have chosen, He chose Father's Day.

 

And before Dad entered into glory, God gave him one final day—eight precious hours—to spend with the love of his life. “His Beautiful Girl”

One final day to talk together.

One final day to laugh together.

One final day to hold hands.

One final day to remember 62 years of love, sacrifice, joy, and devotion.

Before he entered Heaven, he got to spend his last earthly day with his beautiful girl.

That is how good God is.

 

And for that blessing, we say:

 

Thank You, Lord.

 

Dad “Poo Bare”, thank you for your sacrifices.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your stories, your laughter, your guidance, and your love.

Thank you for teaching us what it means to work hard, love deeply, and always put family first.

We will miss your voice.

We will miss your smile.

We will miss hearing your stories.

But most of all, we will miss you.

 

Your legacy lives on in your wife, your son, your granddaughter, your great-grandson, and in every life you touched.

 

Until we meet again, Dad “Pooh Bear” may you rest peacefully in God's eternal embrace.

 

We love you.

 

We always will.          

 

Thank you, Father, for this wonderful man forgiven him such a wonderful life such wonderful friends and family.

 

Amen.