A good man has passed away and Amarillo has one less gentle soul among its ranks.
Jim Holston was involved in hospice care for decades. He battled openly and courageously for years against prostate cancer. I recall seeing him one day at a downtown lunch spot and he spoke matter-of-factly about the struggle he was having with the disease.
Perhaps it was his hospice training that enabled him to talk so crisply — even cheerfully — about a potentially fatal illness.
But Jim was great conversationalist no matter the topic, and he always had a good word to pass along whenever our paths crossed.
Jim’s family and friends will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church to celebrate his wonderful life.
I’m guessing that Jim would want it to be a happy event. It won’t be hard to keep smiling. It will be difficult, though, to keep my eyes dry.