John Ratledge Obituary

Hey dad! Just stopping in, I've been thinking about you lately. I wish we had had more time to get to know each other and be apart of each other's lives. I've been through a couple rough patches lately and I just wish you and mom were here to talk to. Nicole, Nick and I have been speaking more and I'm so so grateful for them. I think you'd be proud of all of us and would adore all of your grandbabies! I love you dad, and I miss you more and more every day! Hugs and kisses to you and mom

♥♥♥♥Missing you❤❤❤❤

Thinking about you today Daddy, love u lots.

RIP John. Big red.

its jus me again daddy...I LOVE YOU

i actually wanted to correct myself it wuldve been your 53rd birthdate...love you

hello daddy...jus wana say i thot of u yestrday on wut wouldve been your 54th birthdate....im sorry i jus wasnt feeling well yesrtday and culdnt get on the computer...i did however lite a candle in my room next to you...miss you, love, hugs and kisses nicole

hey dad just wanted to drop by lite a candle for u and everyonelse and say hi and that i miss everyone up there u mom grandma nell aunt mona uncle tim uncle larry and jerzys brother berny tell them all wish all of u were here to see the girls growing up three beautiful little girls u all would be soo amazed on how advance ready is sometimes i look at her i see mom nevaeh is soo happy all the time she reminds me of jays brother berny and baby sophia looks and reminds me of u at times hope u all keep lookin down on us all to help direct us on the rite paths as its tuff down here and only keeps gettin harder tell everyone i might not say it or show it much but i love and miss u all up there and everyone down here close or far to me love is the hardest word for me to say to anyone but the babys and that's been since mom passed but i'm trying one thing i really need all of ur help with is to stop smoking talk to u all again soon

hello again daddy...i jus want to light the candle for you. i miss you very much

5years daddy you have been gone but definately not from my heart and thoughts...my daughter sophia - her eyes remind me of you-not the color but when you look deep into them -they make me think of you and it makes me happy so i smile. i love you daddy and i know its been a while since i have wrote to you but i talk to you often especially since you stay in my room :0) i really wish you could be here to enjoy all 3 of your granddaughters they are very special!!! you wouldve enjoyed them and they-you..hugs n kisses
love your baby
nicole

I love you daddy. Im still thinging about you and i miss you so much! aunt mona and grandma liz is with you now. please give them both a big hug for and tell them i love them.

Dear Johnny and momma,
please give mona a hug for us. We know she is there with all of you now.
And please tell her, we never stopped loving her.

Always
Sue

daddy i know you are watching over us all. im just sad that you cant be here to enjoy your granddaughter and the new baby ( we really hope its a boy!!) nick needs a boy but is happy any way - we think that the baby is a girl though it will be easier on nick and jerzy becuz they stil have girl baby clothes.you are always in my thoughts i mis and love you always and give my mother my love and tell her no worries.

Hello daddy...i so woke up thinkn about you...i miss u sooooooooo much. im goin thru hard times n could really use one of our talks to get me thru... i have nick n jerzy n raedyn keepn me sane...i miss everyone n its jus been so hard. i wish u couldve been here to see ur granddaughter she is soo beautiful but i knw that ur smiling down on all of us. I LOVE YOU

HELLO EVERYONE UP THERE, IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS AND I'KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EVERYONE DOWN HERE, SOMETIMES THEY RESPOND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T JERRYS SON E-MAILED ME AND WANTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIS FAMILY, HOPEFULLY EVERY ONE WILL TAKE TIME TO SEND HIM A E-CARD ORCALL HIM. I ADDED HIM TO MY ADDRESS BOOK WITH ALL THE REST. I WISH I COULD E-MAIL HEAVEN AND TALK TO ALL OF YOU. I WENT TO THE CEMETARY ON MOMS BIRTHDAY AND PUT A NICE WOODEN SNOWMAN ABOUT 4' HIGH I TALKED TO MOM AND LARRY FOR AWHILE, I WAS THERE FOR QUITE AWHILE. I TALKED TO TIM ALSO. THERE ARE NO HOLIDAY GET TOGETHERS ANYMORE BUT I MADE DINNER ANYWAY FOR YOU GUYS !!!! LOVE FOREVER MONA

HI JOHN, IT'S THANKSGIVING THIS WEEK AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MADE LIFE A HAPPIER PLACE, ESPECIALLY YOU WITH THOSE BLUE EYES OF MOMMA AND THAT LAUGH THAT MADE THE WORRIES GO AWAY. I MISS ALL OF YOU AND KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING OVER US, I'M HAPPY ABOUT NICK AND JERZY HAVING A BABY, I KNOW YOU ARE SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR !! I MISS LAKE AND AIMEE, DON'T HEAR MUCH FROM THEM . I PRAY FOR ALL OF US DURING THESE HARD TIMES WE ARE ALL HAVING, TELL MOMMA I LOVE HER EVEN THO SHE KNOWS IT. LOVE ALWAYS, YOUR SIS MONA

hi daddy its been a long time. just wanted to stop by and say i miss u and love u.

I wish youwere still here with us...today is Aimee's B-Day but im sure you cant forget the joy you felt when you found out you were having another baby girl.We all miss you.Please watch over us and help us make the right decissions-i know i really need to feel your presense now-im having a difficult time so i need you to show me the way i need to go. I love you

Begining my day,
Sitting on the patio,
Heard your song,
playing on the radio.

"When I get to where I'm going"

My heart was heavy for that moment,
until the words began to say...
Don't cry for me down here.

I smiled and remember your smile and all the good times we had.

I love you, Happy 2nd birthday.

Love Always
Sue

happy fathers day dad and uncle timmy

HAPPY FATHERS DAY, DADDY I LOVE YOU..PLEASE HELP AIMEE AND LAKE MAKE IT THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.OH AND BLESS NICK AND JERZY THEY ARE EXPECTING A BABY IN JANUARY(MAKE IT BOY!!) TELL GRANDMA NELL AND MY UNCLES THERE WITH YOU I MISS AND LOVE THEM TOO...I MISS YOU SOO MUCH

Pennies from heaven!
When I am feeling down, I take a walk,
and listen to myself talk, I find pennies from heaven on the ground.

My angels from up above,
Just sent me a message...
I am LOVED!

Thanks Mom, Larry, Timmy and Johnny for watching over us down here from
above,

our guardian angels sending your precious Love.

Sue
ps
Thanks for the rain, you can keep the thunder, you know I never liked that.

I know Mom saw you at her funeral, as she had requested that you all be there and dressed in suits, tell her, Timmy and Larry, Grandma Ida, Aunt Agnes and Aunt Lou we all think of them. Mom must have made you change your clothes !!!

HI John it was nice to see you in my dream the other night you looked so handsom in that suit, your big smile and blue eyes. I know you sent that dream to let all know you are watching all us us down here. Nicole, Lake and I have been finding pennies every we go, especially on the floor of our homes !! NICOLE SAID SHE ALWAYS FOUND PENNIES WHEN YOU WERE HERE WITH US !! I called Nick this morning and told him about it !! I will Call Nicole a little bit later tonight ! It was like watching it live, Love and Miss you . I still have that picture Kelly took of us huging on your couch on the fridge so I can see you every day we were so close you and I always looked after each other. Send more anytime. thanks for the Pennies from Heaven

Hi Johnny, i miss u still & think about u all the time. i wish u could be with aimee & me. we're going through some trying times right now but it will all be over soon & we can get on with our lives. i know you're with us in thoughts. we love u so much !!!

Hi Johnny, i miss u still & think about u all the time. i wish u could be aimee & me. we're going through some trying times right now but it will all be over soon & we can get on with our lives. i know you're with us in thoughts. we love u so much !!!

hey there...just wanted to stop by to let u know that u r on my mind everyday u r my strength I LOVE U and MISS U sooooo much.!
"Life is a dream, death is going home" i read it somewhere and it made me think of u bcuz i know ur home and with Grandma Nell, Timmy, and Larry...I LOVE U ALL

Happy Birthday daddy.....
I miss u so much...

I Love You.........

hi daddy, u would be sooo proud ...
well i know u are smiling down on me...thank you ! I LOve You too!!
so i moved into my very OWN place.
i received all your gifts..its funny b-cuz mom and i were talking the other day on the phone about the coins and how it had been awhile...but i know that ur always around...i even have a customer who sounds like u...i just miss u soooo much i wish you were here in the flesh so i could give u Hug and a kiss for just being you...I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH :)

hi daddy just stopping by to say ...I LOVE YOU with all my heart and i miss u....

Hi Uncle Johnny, you have been on my mind alot. And the other day I Was getting some coffee, and this construction worker infront of me started talking to the girl behind the conter, and I swear 2 you I had to take a double look,, because if i did'nt look at him I would have sworn it was you talking..His voice, and his words. he simply said " Hey Girl" and "Did you behave yourself this weekend" he had a smiling grin just like you ...and it was you if only for a moment... I FELT your presents,,, and I just wanted him to keep talking... so I could be with you longer..I miss you...and wish life could have been a little easier for grandma,You, uncle Timmy and Uncle Larry.. May you all Rest n Peace you all deserve to rest ....I love you all and miss you all...until we meet again..

I just want u to always know that
I LOVE YOU and i think about u all the time daddy....I really really miss u.

hi daddy,i love you...

dearest daddy,
there is not a day that goes by that i fight the tears of missing u.i miss our talks on the phone about all the little things that would upset others as it made us laugh, to know that i was your baby,your first born and no matter what was happening NO ONE could break the bond we shared.I LOVE YOU and hope that i will b able to share the same bond w/ my sister Aimee and to pass it to my own children someday.i know that w/ everyday u are smiling down upon me.i miss our talks daddy,imiss hearing your voice.im doing my best
to take care of the things left undone, its just been a difficult time for me.ive really lost motivation to do my daily tasks.im still in mourning.

Hi John, It's taken me awhile to accect that you are no longer here for me. We shared so much as brother and sister. The Childrens Home, the foster homes and best of all when we were with Aunt Faye and Uncle Joe. I'll never forget what happines we shared with them but no matter what we were always together.I'll always love and remember you! You will be in my heart until we are together again, a team! God bless you and may you rest in peace, which is some thing you never really had here on earth. With all my heart and soul Mona.

To My Longtime Partner, Best Friend

and Brother. You will and are loved and missed. This is "Little

John Cusi" Cusimano. P.S. I'm

giving Lake as much help as I can.

hey uncle johnny long time no see,

to bad i wasnt around to say good bye i was working at the time me and my girlfriend was working for the carnival and then moved to indiana well since your there hows my dad tell him i said hi and i love and miss him so much it was great to see nicole and nicolas again i wish they were closer but what are ya gonna do like you and my dad bolth said "damned if you do and damned if ya dont"! well nice talkin to ya i talk to ya some other time love and miss all you guys .

July 25, 2006



Dear Johnny,



Today has been one month that you've been gone. I want to tell you how much I love & miss you. You'll always be in my heart. You'll never be replaced by another. Remember all the times we talked about that. We were special to each other. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing. Towards the end, you used to tell me how sorry you were to be a burden. I told you never to be sorry, for you haven't a thing to be sorry for. Then you would smile at me with those blue eyes of yours. Oh, Johnny, if only I knew how sick you were, maybe I could have done something more for you. I am so sorry. I'm lost without you. Our love for each other was our happiness. Nicole, Nick & Aimee love you. All of your family & friends love you. And God loves you. We all miss you greatly. I say good morning and good night to your picture every day. I am grieving for you now, but one day we will meet again. Your loving wife and companion....



Love,

Lake

You were a great friend John, and I will always miss you. My friend Lake loved you very much and misses you more than you can imagine. I know we will meet again on the other side.

I wan't to thank all of you who are shareing such wonderful thoughts about(Uncle) Johnny.. Nicole and Nicholas really do need and want to share everyone's memories and old stories we never heard before,, that now we all share to remember ..He may be gone..But never forgot.

Dear Johnny,



That is how I remember you as a small boy running thru the house with golden hair. I have not known you for many years but I know you are loved and have a heart of gold. You are my cousin and the Brooks bloodline runs of love and kindness. I loved Aunt Neil very much and still remember the days with my Mama (Lou) baking those fabulous biscuits and gravy. What I would not do to have them here in China, but at least I still have the biscuit pan that Neil gave me in Atlanta. I cherish that pan as I cherish my family and remember those hard working gentle hands making them. I know that those hands and arms are waiting for all of us and we will all be together again.



Respectfull With Love,

hi there john,

i know we never met in person...but i know that you are a great loving person... Your children has grown up to be very loving and caring people... I wanted to thank you for blessing me with your son nicholas... his my earth angel. you and sharon brought nicholas into this world and for that i thank you... nick is a very loving, responsible, caring, and happy individual... his learned that from you and your family... for that i thank you... we will all meet again when its time...



*with love & respect*

jerzy (nick's girlfriend)

John, you were such a nice little boy. Always making people laugh. I remember when you were catching bumble bees and tying strings on their legs, told you they would sting but you replied "they are dormant" so many memories. Rest in Peace

Love Aunt Faye and Uncle Joe

To My Family,

Please don't be sad for Johnny, he wouldn't want that from you, remember him by talking about him and remembering his laughter.



There was always a twinkle in his eye when he smiled and he had a special little chuckle.



Johnny had a big heart and that is why he left us, worrying about others instead of his self.



"When I get to where I'm Going"

Please don't cry for me down here,

Listen to that song by Brad Pasley and you will see Johnnys face!



Mom knew he was sick so she opened her loving arms and took him with her. A mother knows when it's time.



Johnny, I love You and I know you are in good hands, oh yes...don't eat all biscuts and gravy!



Love Always

Your Sister Sue

Hi Johnny,you will be missed dearly,you are with your brothers and mom now and in very good hands you were allways my brother-inlaw every time i seen you you were smiling and laughing just like Tim was, michael chris priscilla and i will never forget you, you will always be in our hearts along with Tim grandma neil and larry we all love and miss all of u and as for Nichole and Nick they are welcome in my house at any time i will always be there for them if they need me and want me to help them i always thought of them as my own children and Tim did to, we love and miss u very much, even tho we didnt stay in touch much after TIM past away michael was always asking about u when he found you and your phone# he was so happy u was the next one close to him after his dad past away we love and miss u all very much. Cynthia Michael Chris Priscilla

"the best portion of a good man's life is his nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

Uncle Johnny, I remember as a child

that I showed you my toy cars and trucks that I built. You were proud of me and that made me feel good. I remember you as a brave,couragous man that could fix anything, You had skills Uncle Johnny, you had talent. At 47 you are with Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. Say Hi to Grandma Neil,Uncle Timmy and Uncle Larry for all of us. God Speed Uncle Johnny.

i love you daddy.....i promise to be good and to always be there for Lake and my baby brother and sister,Nick and Aimee.

Uncle Johnny, No one could ever take your place. I hear your Laughter all around I know your in heaven Smiling Down. You will never be forgot, Not even for Day, I know that your in heaven Smiling Down,I never seen you With A Frown. Nicole,Nicholas Anytime you need me, you know I will be there, even if its just to cry REMEMBER That I CARE. Even if its 5:00 A.M You know Im Always here. Aimee Your Dad Always carried your Picture and said one day we would meet you.Lake and Family these past two week's have been real hard but in the end we will be ok its just another rainy day.

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
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