James McLean Guidry passed away early March 25th after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by friends and loved ones. He is survived by his brother, John Guidry, multiple cousins, including Heidi McLean and her partner Shannon, and his significant other, Kathy Hallberg. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Loyd Guidry, by his mother, Ellen Guidry, and by his wife, Brenda Guidry.
After his wife Brenda passed, Jim kept his promise to her to continue living and fighting, and it wasn’t long before Jim purchased a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. It had been many years since Jim had been on a motorcycle, and he wanted to bike across the country one more time, just as he had in his younger days. Over the last year, Jim rode around the country on his Honda Goldwing with Kathy Hallberg as his riding partner. They put over 14, 000 miles on that Goldwing. Jim even went to Sturgis with Stacey Hayward, just so he could check one more item off his list.
During the course of riding around the country last summer, Jim and Kathy’s relationship grew beyond friendship. They taught each other how to live again. They taught each other how to love again. Because of Kathy, Jim called himself “3 times lucky”, and he was extremely grateful to her for being with him until the end.
A memorial service will be held after the restrictions of Covid-19 are released and group gatherings are allowed once again. If interested in attending, please email twimmonen@gmail.com, and times/date will be emailed to you. Also, if anyone would like to share a memory, you can write it, audio record it (as Jim was a huge fan of music and being a DJ), or video record it. Submissions will be shared at the memorial service.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Jim. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Jim and his family.
J. Parish says
RIP Brother.
K. C. Green says
Missing your wit my friend. Miss your late night music. God bless you in Valhalla.
David Wilson says
You were one of a kind my brother. Karen and I will miss your love and inspiration. I will always check Facebook first thing in the morning to see your latest posts. God bless you my friend.
Brenda Moseley-Longhofer says
A piece of my heart went with you and I will cherish the memories until I see you again! Smile down on us as angels do. I love you and will miss you my friend, my brother!
Sean Burke says
Jim, you were a bright light for all of us, and it was a pleasure to know you. Your wit, intelligence, and charm were very much appreciated, and you NEVER gave up!
Rest easy my friend, we will all miss you… for now.
Mike Hawker says
A true Texan . A Southern Gentleman and a brother
to me and uncle to my kids. Ride high and fast Jim
always in my heart.
Arnold richardson says
Fly high Peabody,, you will be sorely missed
Jim and Sally Faires says
A wonderful man. (True Renaissance). We are all better people for having him as a friend.
Debbie Smith says
I will miss your witty comments to my FB posts as well as knowing you were just a phone call away when I needed guidance and inspiration. You were such a true friend. Your treasured memories will live forever in my heart. I find peace and comfort knowing you are now pain free. With much love Jim… fly high my dear friend!
Roger McDaniel says
RIP Jim . I will miss your wit , your love love of your country as your inspiration. You were a true warrior !!
Karen Wilson says
I will miss your friendship, encouragement and the laughs we shared. However, there’s no more suffering my friend. I will always be thankful for the time we had. Love you Mr. Jim. ❤️❤️
Lisa McGuyer says
We will all miss you so much. I already miss your posts and your sense of humor and your warrior spirit. You fought so long and hard. Now it’s time to rest easy and enjoy being reunited with those you love. Rest in God’s peace, my friend.
Fran Russum says
You will be missed and I will remember good times from many years back, and from a few years back. Be at peace!
Andrew Vargas says
Gonna miss you Jim. As I told you when you were here in Texas last September…..there are a lot of people in our lives that we call friends, but very few of them that you can call family. You were definitely family. We love you and will miss you tremendously.
Jim & Dixie Sutherland says
You were truly a special friend and you will be missed.
Kim Strobel says
Love and miss you, “big brother”! Your big ‘ole Texas love forever left a mark on my life.
Bridgett Brower says
My deepest sympathy to Jims family and friends. Jim is an inspiration to is all. We were friends in band and conspired many days during breaks and lunch breaks.. We attended the same church. I always enjoyed our visits as Jom was always so welcoming and so easy to talk to….did I mention understanding. I stopped off to see Brenda and Jim in Montana; they were gracious and were so kind during my broken wrist excursion….got to see all those guns and his talents! Love you Jim!! You will be missed by many, Dear Jim. ❤️❤️❤️
Amanda Landrum says
Still hasn’t sunk in Jim. The World is a darker place already.
Joe Rossi says
I have many fond memories of Jim over the years. He was part a close-knit group of us who ‘grew up’ in Butyl and it brings a smile to my face just thinking about the fun we all had over the years. It was great seeing him again last September and reminiscing about everything from the basketball and softball teams to the ‘sleep overs’ in the conference rooms. May all the fond memories and love for Jim bring comfort to his family and friends during this difficult time.
Thomas Adams says
I will miss you so much, my friend Jim. I’m missing you right now. We were friends in college back in Commerce TX, studying photography, and spending many hours together with each other…Good times. And since we re-connected last year on FB, we found that we are both fighting this same cancer. You guidance, wisdom, laughs, and love have been so important to me, and I pray for the repose of your beautiful soul. Eternal rest grant unto Jim O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon you, my dear friend. I will fight this fight in your memory.
Vivian Harrison says
RIH jim you were one of a kind.
Sharon Mitchell says
My friend, Jim, you will forever be with me in my memories of you from childhood to our connecting FB. I will always remember your big smile, your quirky sense of humor and your wit. May you now find the peace you deserve and the reunion with those you hold dear. I’m sure you will be Chief in charge of technology and music in heaven. Love you, my friend!❤️
Peter hallberg says
Jimmy you made my sister smile again. I didn’t know you but I’m grateful to you for that. Thank you for being her companion.
Kelly Jamison says
I have so many stories with Jim, I could fill a book. But most of them start with “Here, hold my beer.”
Jack Stallings says
Jim, thank you, your life was an example on how to live. I have never known a better individual than you Sir. Stay Strong i will see you on the other side of the River
Tawnya LaFond says
I don’t know how you got to be such a good friend in such a short time, but my life is definately not the same without you here. I find myself talking to you every day as I wander throughout the building while working. I often find myself waiting for you to come down the stairs heading out on another journey on your bike. You are definately missed. Take it easy until we meet again.
Armistead Lucas Coleman II says
Jim came into my shop a few years back. Maybe it has been 4 years? It was about a year before Brenda had passed away.
We hit it off right away… guns, music, fishing, motorcycles and SCUBA diving! We talked for hours.
While my life’s adventures lead me to move back to Washington state last January, Jim and I chatted via text, email, and through Facebook.
I know this about Jim positively. He lived deeply, cared about the people around him, and was always willing to help even when he was sick. I will miss his Texas drawl but I will not forget it. It was an honor sir.
Jerimee Cortez says
I will miss you, you are truly the reason I’m where I am today. You took a chance a unknown kid and with Brenda and the old man, you truly have made me man that I can be proud of. I will always remember your laugh and your giant personality. I so glad to have known a true, as you would say, “coon ass”. Your family showed what true southern hospitality was like. I will miss the gumbo and beer bread you and the old showed me how to make. I will make a big pot of gumbo for you and we have a bowl of in spirit. Rip old friend. And say hey to Micheal Jackson for me.
Nichole Hansen says
How do you say goodbye to a hero? As Jim would say, “You don’t, you take a page out of their book. You live. You learn. And you carry on. You keep the good memories and you keep them in your heart. Take the good with the bad and you treat others the way you wanna be treated. ” Jim had the biggest heart. However, you didn’t let just anyone know that. Gruff exterior, but a teddy bear. I am just so grateful that you were in my life. You not only let me in your life, but accepted me for who I am and helped me through some pretty difficult times. I will carry on. And I will take that page and use it to the best of my ability. I will keep you in my heart, and try my best to remember all the good times. You taught me so much and I hope that I can teach others what you have taught me. I love and miss you already.
Brooke Pollock says
Jim. You are and have been for a very long time such an inspiration to alot of people. Your truly one amazing soul. From the first time I met u I knew and could feel how kind and loving u are. U truly truly are so special of a person I can’t thank you enough for giving me inspiration and being so amazing and being u. I will miss u so very much truly will thank u for being u I love u Jim to party with my dad k love u
Diane Lay Warren says
Oh sweet Jim. Even though we’ve known each other since our school days in Commerce it has been a great honor and pleasure to get to know you better over the past few years. Sharing music and just chatting it up late at night. Thank you for taking the time to meet up with me in Tyler when you were on your mission. It was a true blessing. We all miss you a lot but I also rejoice in knowing you are in your safe place with no more pain. Thanks and much love brother.
LauraSue says
I miss you Jim…Thanks for reconnecting so I could experience your friendship again, If only for a brief while. Heaven must be rockin with you spinning the tunes. R.I.P.
Ken McKee says
I first met Jim at Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas in the mid-70s. We were in the same old Army barracks/dorm. It was an instant friendship. We did everything together. There were actually three of us who hung out together. Mike, Jim and me. I remember Jim telling me that Mike had passed away last September. Now that Jim has passed there is this big empty hole in my soul. Jim always credited me with introducing him to Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon.” He introduced me to Bruce Lee. Jim could take a punch to his midsection from anyone. I mean, anyone. And they could not even knock him down. We started a bicycle club at TSTI and rode every Saturday. We did some crazy things. I got arrested for my participation in a Christmas tree heist in Waco and went to jail with two other guys. Jim was able to get the bail money for us without hesitation. I remember him doing his radio music show on Monday nights. I tried to listen in whenever I could. We were friends on Facebook, of course. I remember the time I was going through a divorce. Jim, of course, was understanding. But he unfriended me at one point. He was so tired of seeing me wallowing in self-pity. He said I was better that that. I needed to pull myself up and get on with living. And he was right! He helped pull me out of my slump. And we became Facebook friends again. I always thought there would be enough time to get together. I miss him terribly. He truly is my brother. Rest in Peace, my brother. My friend. I will always miss you an cherish the time we had together.