I just heard about Jimmy passing.  I am his first cousin.  Jimmy's mom and my mom, Dorathy, or Dot as everyone called her were sisters.

We grew up together in Michigan, having moved from Texas or New Mexico to live in Michigan as my dad joined Ford.  We spent a lot of time together, doing whatever kids did.  He was a lot of fun.  We also worked together for a short while for a residential homebuilder.  Jimmy was always the outgoing one, the "fun" guy, while I tended to be more reserved.  So many things to talk about, so many memories.

Some randon thoughts...he taught me how to tie my shoes, he would often belt out the first line of the Bee Gees Nights onBroadway "Here we are, in a room full of roses"!!!  I still do that to this day.  He would sometimes greet me by saying loudly "Wilbuuuuurrrr"  from the show Mr. Ed.  Having never been called Wilbur by anyone, he always laughed after saying to me, and so did I.

It's been a long time since I last saw Jimmy, probably in the early 1980's.  I moved to California in 1979 and we pretty much lost contact.  I hope he sees me now and knows that he was important to me in so many ways.  Rest in Peace Cousin, this is far too soon to say goodbye.

Mark