Jim Lassiter

Andy and I met Jim and Faye Lassiter in Huntsville during our dating/newlywed days. Their daughter, Theresa, ran in our Bible Chair group, and they were always around, or we were at their house. He was a grumpy, complaining sort of guy; Faye the charmer of the group. At first, he scared me.

Heart trouble ran in Jim's family, and we soon learned that Jim had retired because his cardiologist basically told him to "go home, sit down, and wait to die." Right. That was 1975ish. Now, he didn't run marathons, or eat crazy stuff with lots of fat, but he certainly didn't sit down. They served in everyway he could, loved his two daughters and grandson with all his - pardon the pun, - heart, and even outlived dear Faye.

After we left Huntsville, they began Soujourning with their camper. Faye began having strokes; small at first, becoming more incapacitating each time. We kept in touch with Christmas cards and on visits to Huntsville. And then, we heard that Faye died. Now the man she took care of all those years was alone. He kept going on Soujourn trips, and met and married Delores in 4 days.

We ran into them in Tulsa right after they married; they showed us pictures of the wedding; his two girls and her four boys. One happy family, and Jim was not alone anymore. They later moved to Kerrville, and we saw them a couple of times afterwards; they came to Gregg and Erin's wedding. People from Pleasanton that visited in Kerrville would meet them, and they'd always ask about us.

When their Christmas card came back this year, I got worried, but not enough to investigate, and I learned this weekend in Huntsville that Jim has died. They moved to Phoenix to stay with Delores' son, and he died there. We never heard.

While I wasn't truly surprised, it made me so very sad to learn we've lost Jim here on this earth. He always loved strongly, and told things boldly. I felt like his daughter when I was with him. I know he is at peace, but I will miss not seeing him again.

Andy has 5 men he considers mentors in his Christian walk; Jim was one of the first.