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GRACEY -- JAMES MICHAEL born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 12/17/41, passed away at Vista Sandia Assisted Living Residence, April 3, 2012, with his best friend and wife, Ellie, holding his hand. Jim is finally at peace, crossing the Rainbow Bridge with his and Ellie's beloved "critters", and is now able to walk Mickey, Molly, Willie, Clancy, Duffy, and loyal Mate. Joining them are the felines he so dearly loved, Simi, Boss Cat, Corky, Max, Calhoun, Kelly and Casey O'Coonahan, and his favorite garden helper Murphy. The big smile Jim had minutes before dying will always be remembered. Jim graduated from Harding High School, Marion, OH, 1960, earning a golf scholarship to play at the University of Kentucky, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1964. It was unfortunate that he was unable to watch his beloved Wildcats win the NCAA national championship this April, but he did know they won. He came to NM in 1969 to help care for his mother until her death. He had several "assorted" jobs including horse-training and humates mining until he became a sales rep for Jim Walters Paper (eventually became Unisource) for 23 years. He made many life-long friends with printing and office supply customers, mostly in northern NM and southern CO. He and Ellie were married in Skidmore, TX, 1978, in Ellie's parents' home. Jim had a passion for playing golf, horse racing (being a serious, excellent handicapper), and gardening (often having contests with friends on who could grow the biggest tomatoes). He and Ellie shared many hours of their 33 years together loving their animals and watching all sports, especially college basketball, football, and golf. He was philatelist since childhood and once had a brilliant mind for retaining trivial information. He was a 2-year past president of the men's assn. at Arroyo del Oso Golf course as well as a member of the POETS Breakfast Club (not a poet among them). He was also a charter member of the gym, 50n'Fit, and made many friends there. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James Marshall and Mary King Gracey. Survivors include his wife Ellie, his daughter Shelley (Jeff) Jensen, grandsons Ryan and Collin Hughey, and Jefferson Jensen of Keller, TX, son Eric (Sarah) Gracey of Frankfort, KY, sister Pam Clouse of Lexington, KY, and brother-in-law Charles (Kathy) Blaschke of Arlington, VA. He also leaves behind his & Ellie's mutt, Dixie, who brought so much joy to him and other residents at VS, and cats Rowdy, FloJo, and Air Jordan. Jim so loved the times when Ryan, ex-Marine, stopped on his way home from Camp Pendleton to see his "Pop". Speaking as Ellie, I would like to thank a host of friends and relatives who visited countless times and/or cared for Jim, sent him cards, and others who supported us with prayers and love through Jim's long struggle with Lewy Bodies Dementia, a progressive and psychiatric disorder which causes loss of reasoning, memory, and motor skills. There is no cure. His doctors: William G. Henderson, MD, primary doctor for many years, and his wonderful staff at Family Medicine; John C. Adair, MD, Associate Professor Behavioral Neurology and Dementia, UNM School of Medicine. It was Dr. Adair who diagnosed Jim with LBD and treated him for 4 years. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Adair for making the arrangements with the new UNM Brain Bank so that Jim's "donation", through medical research, may benefit others with this horrendous disorder; and Ricardo Ortega, MD, Hospice de la Luz, who treated Jim for one year. His caregivers: Zohreh Kashni and Victoria Tietje, who loved Jim and cared for him in our home for over 4 months until he was moved to VS. They continued to visit him there as well as visiting me. Theresa Mora, Sandy Montgomery, Jamie Crockett, Dione Barton, Jordan Chavez, Brianne Greene, and manager Cathy at Vista Sandia who gave Jim such tender loving care for 9 months. They loved his sense of humor, which was one thing LBD did not rob! Theresa and Joseph Esquivel sat with me for hours on 2 nights even after Theresa had worked 12-hour day shifts, and both were with me on the night Jim died, as was Jordan and Brianne. That's dedication! His Hospice de la Luz team who brought so much comfort to Jim and me, both at home and at VS. Thank you, "Dynamic" Sharon McBride, RN Ranelle, and Chaplain Gary Ortiz, for being with me on Jim's final day as well as countless other days, Dr. Ortega, RNs Lynette, Josh, Kim, Chantel, CNAs Lucas, Sophia, Gloria, volunteer Mike Berger, Chaplain Jamie, Trish, Danielle, Philip, Chris, Esperanza, Mirta, and the rest of the team I never had a chance to meet. Advice: If you have a loved one with a terminal illness, don't wait until death is near to contact a hospice group. Have your loved one evaluated, and if he/she qualifies for hospice, you will be overwhelmed with the support, care and help a team will give your loved one and you as De La Luz did for Jim and me. And if you should ever meet a hospice worker or a caregiver, give them a hug and thank them for being in such a dedicated profession. Too often they unfortunately receive little praise or gratitude. I have 2 special friends who made a big difference in both Jim's and my life these past years. Lynn Fowler, neighbor, who sat with Jim both at home and at VS, read to, talked, and joked with Jim, who was with him for hours his final days so I could go home for a break, walked Dixie with her son Michael, and did countless other things to help me. She still does! Ed O'Neil, golf friend, who visited Jim almost every week for the past 3 years. When Jim was mobile, Ed took him for rides, to the Downs, and to the golf course. I thank him and Barbara and Lynn and her family for always being "there" for me! I thank my other neighbors, friends, and relatives who also have been "there" for Jim and me - Doris (my other Superwoman) and Flo, Ralph and Judy, Dick and Marj, Omer, Bruce, Darrell, Jane, Pam, Joan McD, Judy C, cousin Marty and Marion from Utah, brother Charles & Kathy, childhood friends Linda and Shelley, and so many others. I joined Gretchen Shipley Crowe's frontal lobe dementia support group 4 years ago. If anyone deserves a thank you, it's Gretchen, Arlene Stegman, and all the group members for providing me with knowledge, loving support, and advice. Our group has lost so many loved ones over the years, and it was through their courage that I made the decision to donate my beloved husband's brain tissue for medical research as they had done. Jim's VERY CASUAL celebration of life will take place Saturday, June 9, in the gazebo at Arroya del Oso golf course, 4-6 PM. Food and drinks will be provided. Friends of Jim and me are cordially invited to come, share stories of Jim, and to meet the ones who took care of Jim throughout his journey with LBD. I am so appreciative to Tony Hidalgo, owner and head pro at ADO, and Jim's long-time friend, Bruce Staake, for making it possible to have Jim's life celebrated at his favorite course to play and where he made his only hole-in-one, 2/27/99, hole #12, 182 yds, 6 iron. Please RSVP to me, Ellie, by email or phone ASAP if you plan to come so I can give Tony a somewhat accurate number of people to expect for food, drinks, and seating. Thank you for doing this. For those who wish, memorial contributions can be made to one of two animal rescue charities we supported: PACA/AAR, PO Box 21280, Alb., NM, 87154-1280 OR Animal Humane/New Mexico, PO Box 27827, Alb., NM 87125-7827 OR to Hospice de la Luz, 3812 Academy Parkway North NE, Albuq., NM 87109.
        Published on: Sun April 15, 2012