James Robert Lowell Gossage
James Robert Lowell Gossage, forever faithful son, brother, uncle, friend, musician, carpenter, and heavens newest cyclist, received his angel wings at 1:24, Monday, October 4th, 2021 following his courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.
Born in Long Beach, California, November 27, 1952, and raised in Garden Grove, CA, Jim graduated from Santiago High School in 1970. With his gentle laughter, and subtle smile, Jim was a dear friend and beloved family member to everyone who knew him. As a member of Calvary Chapel (Costa Mesa), Jim loved hiking in Silverado, Black Star Canyon, and the San Jacinto Mountains, lived scripture, wrote music, studied horticulture and played volleyball at Orange Coast College before going into carpentry. Jim moved between Montana and Lompoc, California before eventually settling in Durango, Colorado where he lived and worked for the past 20 years. With his cycling club and tribe, the ‘Usual Suspects,’ Jim cycled the mountain trails of Durango, Scotland, Costa Rica, and France. In his last months, Jim was most grateful for their shared memories of seeing so much of God’s beauty in this world, cycling in the same hilltops they’d enjoyed watching the Tour de France together each year, and the unwavering support of his closest friends during the final months of his fight. Jim enjoyed lending his skills and a helping hand to friends’ homes, old and new, Brother’s little house projects, and Sister’s new tin roof. Jim moved to Cisco, Texas where he had spent dozens of Thanksgiving birthdays and Christmas holidays enjoying the beauty of the ranch. Jim derived peace from the occasional trip to the horse stables and his favorite home cooked meals. Jim was taken much too soon— his passion for playing guitar and beautiful voice, his critical economic intellect and the sparkling blue eyes he shared with Sister “Sue” will be dearly missed.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother Patricia Gennrich Gossage, and father, Bruce Paul Gossage,
Survived by brothers Jan Gossage (of Cisco, TX), Glenn and sister inlaw Celia Crowder (of Rosarito, Baja), and Randy Crowder ( of Yucca Valley, CA) sisters Janice Clark (of Cisco, TX), and Joli Stotelmeyer (of Coalinga, CA), 7 nieces and nephews and dozens of grands and extended family.
In the end, Jim dreamt of being back on the job, running contracting crews, making sure everything would go as it should. Jim was surrounded by reminders of faith, love and family, and delivered into the waiting arms of his parents, Lord and Savior.
The family thanks you for your continued love, support and prayers, and is forever grateful for nursing staff and tender care of Hospice of the Big Country.
Private gatherings for Jim’s family and friends will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Manna-Durango Soup Kitchen, your local food bank or pantry, Doctors Without Borders, or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.