James E. Brate Jr.
– July 10, 2025
James (Jim) E. Brate Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on July 10, 2025. He is predeceased by his parents, James Brate Sr. & Ellen Warner Brate. Jim is survived by his children, Nancy (Edwin) Parrish, David, Jimmy, Sara, Emmanuel and Nikole, along with other beloved children whom he had fostered and adopted over the years. He is also survived by his siblings Joan (Bill) Plunkett, George Brate, Donna Martin, Jackie (Ivar) Bauer and Patty Hunter Brate. He was Grampy to Garrett, Danae, Tara, Rechael, Trevor, Megan, Zachary, Quentin, Tsion, Caleb and Atalie and leaves a legacy behind in his 12 great-grandchildren.
Jim was born in Albany, NY, to James (Sr.) and Ellen Brate and grew up in the town of Clarksville, where he owned and operated Brate’s Auto Sales, had a 24-hour wrecker service, owned a junkyard and had an auto body shop, where he acquired an amazing talent for body work and refurbishing wrecked vehicles. He also acquired equipment to excavate land, and he built several homes and duplexes in the area. In 1968 moving the family to California seemed a great idea, so they headed west only to head back east a few short weeks later when his father’s grocery store burned down.
After helping his dad rebuild his store, Jim decided he was done with the cold winters, and it was time to try a move again. This time he moved the family (and all his equipment) to Ruskin, FL. It was 1973 and at the ripe old age of 34, a new venture was begun, selling mobile homes and developing his first mobile home park. He opened Neptune Mobile Home Sales at the current location of the Elks Lodge on US 41 and began developing Neptune Mobile Village on Gulf City Road. Many of the mobile homes that were sold filled Neptune as well as many other parks in the area. With his family and some very loyal employees (who were like family), Jim completed Neptune and moved on to Chulavista MH Park, where he expanded the number of lots, installed roads and made numerous other improvements. Two other parks, Woodland Estates and Riverbreeze Estates, were developed during the early ’80s and by the late ’80s Jim had purchased Hide-A-Way RV Resort where substantial improvements were made in added lots and a swimming pool, among other things.
It was also during this time that he built his residence on 4th Street NW, which was over 9,000 sq. ft. and included a not-so-common thing for Florida. The bottom floor was a beautifully decorated basement where many a party was had at holiday times. It was also in the ’80s that Neptune MH Sales became Sun Manor Mfg. Home Sales and plans were set in motion to develop another mobile home park, which was to become Sun Manor Mobile Home Community, on 20 acres located on SR 674. However, life took a different turn, and God had other plans. The property was sold to the Calvary Lutheran Church, which now boasts of a beautiful church and outreach ministry.
Helping others was always a priority for Jim, so he and his family were always looking for opportunities to give back. One of his favorite outreaches was when he and his family and some friends would gather Christmas morning to load containers of food into their cars and deliver them to families who may not have been fortunate enough to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. He was always ready to lend a hand to help, whether it was collecting items to donate or if it was using his equipment to remove storm debris to help a neighbor out. If there was a need he could help with, Jim Brate would be there.
It was during the ’90s that Jim sold most of his properties and his interests and moved to Central America, where he did so much to help the people of Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and other adjoining countries. He donated land he had purchased in Belize to the Dream Center International to provide a meeting place for missionaries who would arrive to provide outreach. Jim was instrumental in getting bus loads of supplies and clothes shipped from Florida to Belize and was sometimes joined by his sons, David and Jimmy, to help. Jim enjoyed being able to distribute the items and see the smiles on the faces of the children. He also took great pride in being able to contribute financially and in labor hours to the Acres of Love Orphanage.
He was also involved in a wheelchair ministry, helping to collect and distribute wheelchairs, especially to children who were in need. Jim made many trips to Central America, and the number of people his life has had an impact on is countless. When Jim was no longer able to travel to Central America, he once again set his sights on helping those here in Ruskin. He would often ride around town checking to see if any of the homeless were in need of help. He even gave his phone number out so they could call him if they were in need of a ride, and he would show up to transport them to a doctor’s appointment or other place they requested to go to.
He always looked forward to Tuesday evenings when Meet Me in the Streets ministry would be at the Winn Dixie parking lot, providing food for those in need of a meal, and would often be passing out the clothes he had collected. He also enjoyed his Sundays when he was able to attend a service at the Crossing Church and end the day having family supper surrounded by many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even when he was no longer able to drive and had become bedridden, you just knew he wanted to be out there looking for someone to lend a helping hand to.
Services were held Saturday, July 26, at Wellspring Church, 705 9th St. SE, Ruskin. Visitation was at 10 a.m. with a service that followed at 11 a.m. If anyone would like to contribute to a ministry, two of Jim’s favorites were Meet Me in the Streets (Ruskin/Chris & David Hicks) and Dream Center International (Mexico/Pastor Bill Craver).
“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, 36) I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me.” Matt 25:35-36
Jim was born in Albany, NY, to James (Sr.) and Ellen Brate and grew up in the town of Clarksville, where he owned and operated Brate’s Auto Sales, had a 24-hour wrecker service, owned a junkyard and had an auto body shop, where he acquired an amazing talent for body work and refurbishing wrecked vehicles. He also acquired equipment to excavate land, and he built several homes and duplexes in the area. In 1968 moving the family to California seemed a great idea, so they headed west only to head back east a few short weeks later when his father’s grocery store burned down.
After helping his dad rebuild his store, Jim decided he was done with the cold winters, and it was time to try a move again. This time he moved the family (and all his equipment) to Ruskin, FL. It was 1973 and at the ripe old age of 34, a new venture was begun, selling mobile homes and developing his first mobile home park. He opened Neptune Mobile Home Sales at the current location of the Elks Lodge on US 41 and began developing Neptune Mobile Village on Gulf City Road. Many of the mobile homes that were sold filled Neptune as well as many other parks in the area. With his family and some very loyal employees (who were like family), Jim completed Neptune and moved on to Chulavista MH Park, where he expanded the number of lots, installed roads and made numerous other improvements. Two other parks, Woodland Estates and Riverbreeze Estates, were developed during the early ’80s and by the late ’80s Jim had purchased Hide-A-Way RV Resort where substantial improvements were made in added lots and a swimming pool, among other things.
It was also during this time that he built his residence on 4th Street NW, which was over 9,000 sq. ft. and included a not-so-common thing for Florida. The bottom floor was a beautifully decorated basement where many a party was had at holiday times. It was also in the ’80s that Neptune MH Sales became Sun Manor Mfg. Home Sales and plans were set in motion to develop another mobile home park, which was to become Sun Manor Mobile Home Community, on 20 acres located on SR 674. However, life took a different turn, and God had other plans. The property was sold to the Calvary Lutheran Church, which now boasts of a beautiful church and outreach ministry.
Helping others was always a priority for Jim, so he and his family were always looking for opportunities to give back. One of his favorite outreaches was when he and his family and some friends would gather Christmas morning to load containers of food into their cars and deliver them to families who may not have been fortunate enough to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. He was always ready to lend a hand to help, whether it was collecting items to donate or if it was using his equipment to remove storm debris to help a neighbor out. If there was a need he could help with, Jim Brate would be there.
It was during the ’90s that Jim sold most of his properties and his interests and moved to Central America, where he did so much to help the people of Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and other adjoining countries. He donated land he had purchased in Belize to the Dream Center International to provide a meeting place for missionaries who would arrive to provide outreach. Jim was instrumental in getting bus loads of supplies and clothes shipped from Florida to Belize and was sometimes joined by his sons, David and Jimmy, to help. Jim enjoyed being able to distribute the items and see the smiles on the faces of the children. He also took great pride in being able to contribute financially and in labor hours to the Acres of Love Orphanage.
He was also involved in a wheelchair ministry, helping to collect and distribute wheelchairs, especially to children who were in need. Jim made many trips to Central America, and the number of people his life has had an impact on is countless. When Jim was no longer able to travel to Central America, he once again set his sights on helping those here in Ruskin. He would often ride around town checking to see if any of the homeless were in need of help. He even gave his phone number out so they could call him if they were in need of a ride, and he would show up to transport them to a doctor’s appointment or other place they requested to go to.
He always looked forward to Tuesday evenings when Meet Me in the Streets ministry would be at the Winn Dixie parking lot, providing food for those in need of a meal, and would often be passing out the clothes he had collected. He also enjoyed his Sundays when he was able to attend a service at the Crossing Church and end the day having family supper surrounded by many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even when he was no longer able to drive and had become bedridden, you just knew he wanted to be out there looking for someone to lend a helping hand to.
Services were held Saturday, July 26, at Wellspring Church, 705 9th St. SE, Ruskin. Visitation was at 10 a.m. with a service that followed at 11 a.m. If anyone would like to contribute to a ministry, two of Jim’s favorites were Meet Me in the Streets (Ruskin/Chris & David Hicks) and Dream Center International (Mexico/Pastor Bill Craver).
“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, 36) I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me.” Matt 25:35-36