Submitted by his parents

The day our hearts were full was on February 18‚ 1984. God blessed us with a son. We had the world by the tail. We named him James Harrison Fugate‚ Jr.

I carried him for 9 months. I felt the life of him in my heart each time it beat. When he was born we counted each finger‚ each toe – perfect! No hair of course‚ but one special little mark which was on his nose – red. He was called a star gazer. When he would get mad it would get redder‚ but that didn’t matter – he was our life.

We began teaching him as well as he taught us. Long nights with no sleep were worth every bit of it. Sick days – the good days – we took them any way we knew how. As he grew older we taught him how to talk. One thing special about that was that he always asked if he could cuss. He would say‚ ‘Mom‚ can I say a cuss word?’ We taught him how to walk and then he taught us how to run after him.

As a teenager‚ Mom and he grew a lot closer because Mom always gave in before Dad. We all laughed together at good things and cried together at bad things. We shared school work and he taught us as well as we taught him. He was so smart‚ but was more into real things in life – enjoyed his life every day. But when things went wrong he would always come to Mom and Dad. He would get mad if he didn’t get his way and walk away and come back later. Then we would talk. Then he would pick me up and swing me around and say‚ ‘Mom‚ sorry – love you.’ He would have done that to Dad‚ but Dad was too big.

Little things like that will never be forgotten. He had a heart of gold and loved life so much. He always helped anyone who needed help. But there is not enough time or paper to tell about the memories of our son.

The day our hearts left us was on January 11‚ 2005. He died as a result of a car wreck which happened on December 27‚ 2004‚ while going to a fire call. He lived to do that – loved it – couldn’t wait to hear the radio go off. He made a run to make it there‚ but never made it. I will never forget that phone call that night from his Dad.

God took him on January 11th. God gave me the strength to talk to my son that night before he left. I asked God to take me‚ too. I am sure his father did also. But God didn’t change his plans. He needed the best one‚ so he took him. To this day‚ I ask God every day ‘Why God? He was so full of life!’ But we know in our hollow hearts that when we get there‚ God will tell us why. So many memories of good and bad we carry in our hearts.

Never forget – always remember. Because we all will never be the same. We will all pull up another tomorrow and go on just like he would if he was here. So we will continue to live in life until we get to the other side where we know he will be waiting.