I was home in N. Idaho but now came back to Oregon for a short while.

Today March 7th 2010 my dad passed away. It has just been three months since he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Until just a few days ago he was walking and talking, although he was very tired. Tuesday, 5 days ago, he went to the oncologist for follow up after his second round of chemotherapy. The doctor told him that his cancer had grown and increased while he was on the chemotherapy. He decided that there was no reason to continue with chemo. The doctor put him on hospice on Weds. and by Friday he was semi-comatose. And today, Sunday, he died. He has been the greatest dad. His sense of humor is what everyone who ever knew him remembers the most. He could be so fun. I have such great memories of camping, fishing, going to the race track, watching him play sports. He also was a great story teller, usually something funny. I remember once when I was about 10 years old, he came back from a hunting trip and acted all sad because he didn't get a buck. He then asked me to go to the car trunk and bring in his boots. Well, when I got to the trunk there was a huge buck head sticking out at me. It startled me and I jumped. He and my mom stood on the porch laughing at me. I had to laugh too, because it really was funny. The older he got the better parent he became. I am in my mid-50's and still felt that I was his little girl and that he loved me. My niece, who is 17 yo, was even closer to my dad (her grandpa) than any of his own kids, probably because she never had a dad in her life, so grandpa became her dad. She spent all of her time with him for the last three months, actually for the last 17 years... He was still talking to her and joking with her on Friday night. I drove all day today to get here to say good-bye but I got here too late. I really wish I had been able to tell him how much I will miss him and how great a dad he has been. He knows that I love him but I have never been too good at telling him (or anyone for that matter). My dad was only 77 years old and has always been so young at heart and physically active, until about last summer when he began to be tired. He thought he was just getting old, so he would not go in for a check up. He had had a check up about a year ago and his lungs were perfectly clear at that time. Who would have thought that cancer could start and advance so quickly. I'm glad for him that he did not have a long time to suffer pain or feel short of breath. I will miss him terribly.

Check out James' new music...

Check out James' new songs. He has a facebook site called "The Music of James Gillice", where he puts some of his songs. Try it out and become a fan. Especially all of you who are related to him! Support your cousin (nephew, brother, etc) Become a fan. Just click on the caption above and it will take you to his facebook site.