Yesterday my brother, Jimmy ‘Ace’ Evans died. He was a good brother and a strong man. Throughout his life he endured many trials that would have sundered other people, including myself.

He fought a war against cancer, but it was not the tumors that took him from us but  pneumonia. During our conversations while he battled the disease and when he conquered it he told me that he had made peace with his mortality. He accepted that life ends with a grace, dignity, and calmness that astounds me and fills my heart with pride. I hope that when my time comes and that terrible news is given to me that I can accept it with half the strength he showed.

He was an artist, captured nature with a camera. Birds were often his subjects and on his facebook page he shared with us some astounding images. He was a poet, a talent I deeply respect as I have no ability to craft poetry. He was a philosophical man and a political activist.

My brother always encouraged and supported my feeble attempt at prose and I will miss him dearly.