In Memory of Jim (Steve) Pearthree

Jim (Steve) Pearthree was my big brother, yet many people considered him a brother. He had a gift when it came to making people smile. "Work hard, play hard" he was often heard to say. Jim was tough but fair, one always knew where they stood - no games, just the truth. He was five years older than me, meaning that I was fair game for all the practical jokes he and his friends could think of. The bond he made with his friends made them extened family - it's a little scary that his group of knucklehead friends were my role models.

During my teenage years when I lived with my Mom, he acted also as my father at times. As many teenage boys do, I needed discipline and guidance in my life. Though he wasn't the model teenager himself, he guided me to be one. I think I learned from his mistakes better than he did.

As a young man, I watched how he changed himself. Once he decided he was on the wrong path in life, I saw him change course and become a model citizen. Active and caring about everyone. I once called him when driving to his home in TX and told him I was going to drop off a hitch-hiker I'd picked up. Remembering his wandering years he told me to bring the hitchhiker home - he welcomed our guest with a towel and clean clothes and pointed him to the shower. After a fine meal Cheryl made for us all, he drove our guest to the local mission. It was at that point I saw the soft side of him.

I remember when he became a father and the pride he showed in it. I lived with his family for a short while when his first son Adam was very young. I remember the time Jim spent reading and teaching Adam - and the way he always talked to Adam like he was an adult. It puzzled me at first, this big man talking to this small child like he was an adult, but the results were outstanding. I've modeled my parenting after what I learned from him. Everytime we talked, he talked about his kids - "best thing I ever did" he told me.

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