James Michael Jackson

James aka Jim, Jimi, "Fathand" Michael Jackson: September 10, 1971 – July 17, 2009 After a courageous four year battle with brain cancer, Jim transitioned peacefully from his life on earth to his eternal home on the afternoon of July 17, 2009 at his parent's home in Bellvue, Colorado. Jim was born in Long Beach, California, on September 10, 1971 to Mike and Judy Jackson. He was a creative, imaginative and artistic little boy. When Jimi was age seven, his family moved to Bellvue and he began playing drums much to the delight of his mother. Jimi played drums and sang in several bands as a teenager. He even inspired his sister Joy to start singing. Joy is now an extremely accomplished musician herself! Jimi loved to draw and won several distinguished awards for his outstanding drawings. He loved to go mountain biking, mountain climbing and backpacking with his friends up Long's Peak. He loved the ocean and treasured his time at the family cabin near Yellowstone. He always had such an appreciation for life and a clear vision of what he wanted to do — play music. When asked to move to Los Angeles to join his friends and band mates, Troy and Taylor Duffy, in their musical endeavors, he headed out West. By the summer of 1997, his band, The Boondock Saints, was being courted by several major record labels. They signed with Lava Atlantic Records and recorded their first album at Longview Farms studio outside of Boston. In October 2001, Jimi married Jodi Gregory in Malibu, California. His band split up so the couple moved to Austin, Texas in 2002. Jimi joined SunMachine and began playing shows with band mates Mitch Armstrong, Jason James and Rob Rosson at local venues and in Colorado. His life was forever altered on March 9, 2005 when an MRI revealed a cancerous brain tumor. After surgery and treatments, he was in remission until October 2008 when he received the unsettling news that his cancer had returned. He had another surgery in November 2008 and began undergoing intense chemotherapy treatments. In May of 2009, Jodi and Jimi returned to Bellvue to be with Jimi's parents after they were told the chemo treatments were not working. Jimi was always quite the entertainer. From his crazy dance moves to his unpredictable sense of humor, his compassion for others and fun-loving spirit, people were drawn to him. Despite the circumstances, he remained optimistic and had a clear vision of what's important and a great appreciation for the small things in life… like the thoughtfulness and compassion of family and friends who took the time to show they care. He touched the lives of so many people and was always thinking of "others first." We hope you'll emulate his joyfulness and pass it on. Jimi was the beloved, devoted husband of Jodi Gregory Jackson. He will forever be remembered by his loving sister Joy Jackson and treasured nephew Marcus Jackson of Fort Collins. He is also survived by his uncle John Bridge, caring in-laws Diana and Grady Gregory, sister and brother-in-law Angela and Ron Sharbino, cherished nieces and nephew Saxon, Brighton and Sawyer, along with countless friends and family whom were blessed to know him. The family would like to thank everyone for their constant love, support and prayers. A special thank you to Mountain Valley Healthcare therapists and Hospice. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at 2:00 pm at the Vineyard Church of the Rockies, 1201 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the "Jimi Jackson Medical Fund," PO Box 222, Bellvue, CO 80512.