The family of Jim Douglas have been wonderful supporters of NNFF, we thank them. They want you to know the wonderful person Jim was. After you read about his case, please read the moving tributes about Jim, written by his family.

When he became ill, the only injury that they could find was a small cut on his thumb.

On Friday, April 10, 1998 he took his snow machine to the mountains and was active all day Friday. Saturday he didn't feel so well so he rested in the motor home all day. At midnight he drove down the mountain to the emergency room. The doctor on call checked him over and said he had a blood clot in his leg and to go home and put packs on it and also take some pain medication. He was in terrific pain all over his body.

Sunday morning his wife called the ambulance and took him to the hospital. His family doctor met him there and put him in I.C.U. He told the family this was a life threatening condition. He put Jim on oxygen, a respirator and the tngest antibiotic made, which didn't souch the Strep A. His right leg was swollen to twice the size it should have been and he had swelling under the ears the size of an apple. At times his blood pressure would come up a little, which would give everyone hope.

He was hospitalized one day and one night. It was very fast. He survived two days after the onset as far as we know. This was the first case in Sheridan, Wyoming and the doctor seemed to know the symptoms and how to treat it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A LOVING TRIBUTE TO MY BROTHER

We were raised on a dairy farm south of town. I always looked up to Jim and he could fix anything. I remember when he got his first motorcycle at the age of 14 (a Cushman scooter) it didn't have any brakes so he tied a log chain to it and when he needed to slow down, he just dropped the chain.

At 16 years old, he graduated to a 125 Harley Davidson. This started his love for Harleys for the next forty years. It was also the beginning of an annual trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This August would have been his 40th year in a row.

Jim lived his dream of owning his own Harley shop until the early 90s when he sold it. Another dream come true was opening his store on Coffeen Svenue, selling Kawasaki and Yamaha recreational vehicles.

We shared many fishing trips to Canada and had another planned for this June.

A special thanks to the bikers who rode their motorcycles to the funeral as a tribute to Jim...we know he was watching with that great smile on his face.

Jim, was my best friend. He worked hard, but also played hard. So many memories will be held in my heart and that great smile of his will follow me wherever I go.

---From Jim's Brother - Larry Douglas

Jim would have celebrated his 56th birthday Wednesday, April 22.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim Douglas

As a child Jim had polio. With so many grueling hours of exercise he had a full recovery. Over the years he had sinus problems which didn't slow him down. As he was growing up he was active in scouts, 4-H, and the Presbyterian church. He helped his parents a lot on the farm and that gave him a great basis.

Jim and his wife met in Denver where she was employed by a doctor. She married Jim in 1974 and their raised their three children. When their children were raised they started life anew.

Jim owned his own plane and was active in search and rescue. He and his wife traveled a lot and on one of these trips they started scuba diving together. They also went on cruises together.

Jim owned "Jim's Cycle and Marine" and had access to recreational equipment. He utilized everything and boated, water skied, jet skied, snow skied and in his spare time, he got in some fishing. His wife supported him on everything and they had many happy years together. Next to his family his love was for motorcycles.

The family had a reunion last year and it was perfect. Everyone was there, except his father who preceded him in death. Everyone had a wonderful time. It ended with a trip to a trout farm where Jim taught all the grandchildren how to clean fish. What a wonderful memory of him and it was videotaped so he'll always be with us.

He got along well with everyone and they always came to Jim because he knew how to do things and was always willing.

He had a beautiful funeral with 300 to 400 present. Motorcycles were ridden in his memory. The family received about 1000 cards as everyone felt the loss.

He is survived by a wonderful wife, 3 children and 6 grandchildren who love him, very much. Also one brother and one sister who are very proud of him and very sad. His wonderful wife will keep his memory alive for all of us as she quietly mourns. His mother had to endure the loss of her husband (Jim's father) in 1990 and it was almost more than she could bear to lose her wonderful son,

Other than his father, Jim experienced death with the loss of an infant daughter.