Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Sent in by: Maestri

James "Jim" Rex Richards was my step-grandfather. My real grandfather left my mom's family when she was still really young and after a string of bad marriages my grandmother eventually met Lodi California Fireman Jim Richards. He filled in the gap left behind by the father of her three children and became more of a father (and grandfather) than her previous husbands could have ever hoped to be. In 2005 he was diagnosed with inoperable esophageal cancer. He wasn't expected to live past the month, but he made it almost an entire year and in April of 2006 he passed away at the age of 56. He'll always be my grandfather, regardless of whether we shared blood or not.

Candice "Candy" Richards was my grandmother. She spent most of her early life raising children, her firstborn being my mother at the age of 16. Through about four nasty divorces she found herself struggling financially and moved the family from Lodi, California to Tennessee to live with her parents. She provided her family with the best resources she could with what little she made working two waitressing jobs and eventually began work in a pajama factory (no greater Christmas present than new pajamas!) making little more than $10 an hour to support three children. She grew to be one of the strongest, most generous women I've ever known. She earned her diploma shortly after her 45th birthday and began work at a local clinic. While at work one day she began suffering from bizarre pains and felt dizzy. She passed out that morning while sitting at her desk and was rushed to the hospital to be treated for a stroke. Upon further inspection it was discovered that she had leukemia and that she was suffering from it for a period of months. She passed away at 52 in July of 2002.

Both Candice and Jim leave behind children Theresa, Michael, and Michelle and grandchildren Patrick, Kendra, Austin, Chase, and newborn Colton.