In 1988 I met Jim and he had 3 strikes against him.  He was still married, but separated, he was younger than me, and I thought he was just rebounding.  I guess when God drops someone in your lap, you just don't have much choice and he was very stubborn. He just kept insisting I see him.  I did too, on a regular basis he would appear where ever I was. He ask me to bowl with his group so I saw him every Wednesday. He would call me to go to lunch, go golfing, etc. I was happy being single and had been for about 7 years.  I liked him but before I knew it he was moving me in with him and my life changed for the better.  For the first time in my life I felt loved and respected.  I knew what it felt like to really trust someone, depend on someone and respect someone.  He was soon a part of me, an extension of me.  I loved him so much and miss him beyond words.  He was a wonderful gentle sweet man, a loving husband, and a wonderful grandpa too.  My sweet Jim!

Jim was a rebel in high school.  He stood up to anyone who he thought was wrong (including staff) and carried that with him throughout his life.  He was a proud Marine, married three times with one daughter, Bridget Helen.  He was a gentle man.  A kind man.  A quiet man and a deep thinker.  He could fix anything and did.  He was a cowboy.   A best friend.  A lover.  He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a father and a grandfather.  He was my husband!  He was trustworthy. He was a confidant man.  He was content and happy.  He was a good singer and a better dancer.  He was smart and he was dependable.  He was stubborn and he was sweet.  He was generous and he had a big heart.  He loved hard! His passion was fishing and he was good at it.  He was a very hard worker.  He had no tollerance for lazy workers.  He had a strong work ethic.  If he loved you, you knew it.  His best friend was Terry Baker.  His favorite song was "The Dance" by Garth Brooks.  His grandkids called him Pop.  I called him Babe.

You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of love that you shared. 

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow, because of yesterday. 

You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. 

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what he would want, smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.