James Robert Machcinski

TRIBUTE James Robert Machcinski March 28, 1980 – October 29, 2015 What a beautiful man – pure and golden, full of light. Loyal husband, fun dad, piano player, motorcycle enthusiast, purveyor of expert shoulder massages. He loved computers, X Box, PlayStation, and a videogame called Deadpool, based on the antihero from Marvel Comics. He was a loving son, grandson, father, husband, brother, cousin, scary Batman on Halloween. Lover of life for thirty five years until the moment he left this world. He didn’t want to go. He didn’t think he would. He thought he would stay. He never lost faith. In the words of his wife, Jamie, he fought so hard. He didn’t want to leave her. He didn’t want to leave his family. He didn’t want to leave his home in Cleveland, Texas, where he was born and raised, where he graduated from Tarkington High School in 1999 – although he planned to travel the world. He loved to talk to people, anyone. He didn’t discriminate. He wasn’t shy. He approached strangers as if he knew them. He gave people what they needed, sometimes to his own detriment. When he worked for Lowe’s, he gave his spare tire to a customer who could not afford a new tire. He drove around without a spare tire. At Sam’s Distribution Center, he gave his coworkers rides home, and if they were waiting for someone else to pick them up, he waited with them until their rides arrived, to make sure nobody would be stranded. James was a helpful, honest man who worked hard, loved his family, and lived in the ways that mattered, giving joy. An everyday, unsung hero. The kind we should honor. He gave a woman a smile once because, he said, she looked like she needed one. When he became ill, no matter how bad the pain, fatigue, or fear, he did not complain. He spent his last days bringing happiness to others, finding sand dollars on the beach in Florida, being who he was –optimistic, brave, certain he would beat the cancer. He was a good man, stubborn and selfless. When his mother said she wished she could take his cancer, he said he would not give it to her. That he would not wish his illness on anyone. James remained hopeful, determined and sometimes stubborn. In his last hours, he said to his mother, “They think I’m going to die. I don’t want to die. Do you think I’m going to die?” His mother told him it was between him and God. As she was leaving his room, she asked him, “Now who is in control?” James replied, “I am. And God.” He passed away on October 29, 2015, at 11:35am Eastern Time, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, surrounded by loved ones. He knew he was loved. He felt no pain. James’ spirit has taken wing, but he remains forever within our hearts. He leaves his beloved wife of 12 years, Jamie (they were sweethearts for four years before they were married), his daughters Maryann (11) and Erica (9), his son Alexander (8), his mother, Vicki Parham (Keith Parham), his father, Joe Machcinski (kristi Lake), his brother, Joseph Machcinski (Anjali Banerjee), his stepsisters Crystal Parham and Ralisa Parham, his grandmother, great grandmother and numerous relatives, friends and co-workers. The people who loved him are the keepers of memory. He was a special man. In the words of his mother, Jamie was simply, awesome. Written by, His sister-in-law Anjali Banerjee Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. Services will follow starting at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas.