This is a special memorial for Jim Fox, who used to vounteer at Town Cats; Jim is also our "Volunteer of the Month". This memorial was written by a good friend of his, Marg.

I am heartsick to hear that Jim died so suddenly and that he was alone with no family or friends present. I became friends with Jim when I was a Hope Job Coach, working with the Hope crew at Fox. One day I had asked Jim a question about a report that I was doing on the computer. He was more than glad to help me and from then on continued to teach me more and more about working on the computer. We became good friends and our love for animals ~ especially cats ~ brought us even closer. We got together after work ~ and he was always there to help me whenever I messed up my computer or needed help with something around my home. I remember calling him one night while walking my dog, and hearing a kitten that had fallen down a storm drain. I called the Humane Society and when they didn't show I called Jim. He came right away and had no fear about climbing down into that spider-webbed drain to try to rescue that kitten ~ Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, but he dragged a large branch over and stuck it down the drain to help the kitten if it came out to climb up. That was Jim.

When he left Fox, he worried who would care for all his homeless cats in the back, since he would no longer be there. He also rescued some cats from there and gave them a home ~ one he named "Survivor". I got Jim to volunteer with me at Town Cats ~ a cat rescue group ~ he fostered some cats and even took some great photos of Town Cats' shelter that were posted for quite sometime on their website. Jim helped me ~ well, I say "helped" ~ but he single-handedly built my storage shed. The first time we built it together ~ him doing the majority of lifting and work, but after we discovered it was not in a good area. The next day Jim was going to come over to help tear it down and build it up in another area. I had to go somewhere and didn't get home till later ~ when I arrived, I found my shed in another (better) area ~ all moved and rebuilt again. Jim had done this all on his own. I missed Jim so much when he moved, but we kept in touch by e-mails and phone calls. He called me during the hurricanes that he had gone through and even sent me pictures that he had taken. He loved his cats totally ~ he was so excited to tell me that "Survivor" had finally trusted him enough to let Jim pet her and to even sleep on his bed with his other "little family". He sent pictures of his new home ~ how happy he was there ~ although greatly missed here. He told me that "now, if you come to Florida ~ you have a place to stay." He also sent me pictures of his "babies" as he called them. I will miss talking to Jim, sending and receiving e-mails from and to him, seeing the pictures that he would always send me ~ most of all, I will miss his gentle, kind, and good heart. Sure Jim could be stubborn and had his opions, but who doesn't.

Jim showed me his heart and who he was and for that I feel Blessed ~ his friendship was and will always be a treasure to me. I will miss Jim's laughter and great sense of humor ~ he was also a big tease! I looked forward to visiting Jim and us going to Disney Land together and riding the "scary" rides ~ Jim and I both enjoyed the "rush" we got on those rides ~ I'm sure that's one of the reasons why he always invited whenever Fox had it's picnics at Great America ~ we both had someone who was not afraid to brave those rides! Even though Jim did not believe in God, I know that whoever or whatever you call your Creator ~ that Jim must be somewhere ~ in a good place, where he can be with all his cats and other animals that have left this earth ~ there in the midst not only of his own pets, but of mine ~ and everyone else's ~ I feel some sense of peace knowing that and knowing that is what would truely make my good and dear friend the happiest ~ Thank you Jim for your wonderful friendship and the opportunity to know your kind, sweet, and generous soul.