James Morgan Pearson August 20, 1941 – July 12, 2012 James Morgan “Jim” Pearson was born in Dallas, Texas on August 20, 1941 to the late Walter Travis and Georgia Ruth (Pollock) Pearson. He lived most of his life in Dallas, and also spent time in Lubbock, Texas, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Stone Mountain, Georgia. Jim served proudly in the Coast Guard after high school graduation, and worked in sales and accounting for Kraft Foods and for Goodwill Industries, where he was named Worker of the Year.  For the past fifteen years Jim lived in Colorado. Jim broke his neck in a diving accident when he was 26 and lived the last 44 years in a wheelchair. He made some of his most significant achievements after the accident, including volunteering his time and expertise at Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation in Dallas teaching new spinal cord injured patients how to adapt to their new normal, working with Canine Companions for Independence and Canine Support Teams, training service dogs, and being an active participant in local, state, and national politics. Jim’s greatest accomplishment was the grace and courage with which he lived his life. He never allowed his handicap to prevent him from learning and trying new things, he worked daily to be as independent as possible, and he was a loving and supportive husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, nephew, and uncle. He loved music, he loved to laugh, and he loved his Texas Tech Red Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. Owing to his remarkable and rarely seen longevity as a quadriplegic, Jim paved the way for improving the lives of future spinal cord injured individuals. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, many aunts and uncles, and his beloved service dog and friend El Pomar, with whom he won many recognitions and awards. He is survived by his wife Serena, his brother and sister-in-law Walter and Heather, daughter and son-in-law Kim and Paul Howard, grandchildren Tara, CJ and his wife Eileen and his great-grandsons Corbyn, Corey, Tyler and his great-granddaughter Sailor, and his daughter Sharon and granddaughter Jessica. He is also survived by his nephew and his wife Travis and Asennet Pearson, and their children Garrett, Mallory, Samantha, Andrew, and Alex, his nephew and his wife Greg and Laura Pearson, and their children Hannah, Chase, and Emma, and his nephew Lee Pearson; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Christopher and Griselle Duval, and their daughter Maura. Jim is also survived by his aunts Cathie Scarborough, Phyllis Pearson, and Aleene Pollock, many other relatives and friends, and his dogs Calloway and Hero, both retired from service. Jim died on his 15th wedding anniversary, on July 12, 2012 in Colorado Springs at the age of 70, with Serena at his side. According to his wishes his body was cremated. His ashes will be scattered, along with those of his beloved El Pomar, in the Gulf of Mexico at a future date . A memorial celebration will be held on Monday July 23, 2012 from 10:00 – 10:30am, with a reception to follow from 10:30am – 12:30pm at Manitou Springs Congregational Church, 103 Pawnee Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829, 685-5255, Rev David Hunting, Officiant.  Another celebration will be held in Dallas, Texas at a future date. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested that memorial donations be made to Paw Pals Assistance Dogs, 8635 Champie Road, Falcon, Colorado, 80831.