Jim Greenwood, 69, Silver City NM

Jim Greenwood 69, of Silver City New Mexico joined his much loved family in heaven when he walked into the arms of his savior on Friday Jan 20th after a very short battle with bladder cancer.

Jim was born to Dale and Marilyn Greenwood on September 17, 1953 in Chadron, NE. The family moved to Cartwright ND in 1957 and he attended Horse Creek Country School through 8th grade. He graduated from Sidney High in 1971. He worked as a clerk at Yellowstone Mercantile until his graduation. He used his wages to buy his mom a beautiful set of china one Christmas; something she had never possessed. He lived in Sidney with Oscar and Sadie Johnson during those years. They loved him like a grandson and taught him to play Bridge, something he enjoyed the rest of his life. We suspect he gained his love of cooking from Sadie as well. After graduation he spent a summer in New York working as a landscaper. He came back and enrolled at the National College of Business in Rapid City. From there he returned to ND and attended Jr. College in Williston, ND where he also worked as a bartender. He joined the US Navy in 1976 and served 4 years active duty and 2 years reserves. He saw the world aboard the USS Marvin Shields naval vessel with ports in Japan, Philippines, Samoa, and others. He spent is last naval years in Bremerton Washington. He received the Navy-Wide Achievement Award before honorable discharge in 1982. He then moved to Fargo, ND and attended NDSU where he earned a double major in Nursing and Agricultural Economics. He worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Environmental services while in School and as an RN upon graduation. He moved to Rapid City, SD in 1987 and worked at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He soon tired of cold weather and moved to San Diego, CA where he met his lifelong friends Mark and Earl Hunter whom he considered family the rest of his life. The bought a house and lived together while he worked as a traveling nurse at various hospitals in the San Diego area. He also worked in Palm Springs, CA where he cared for Frank Sinatra's wife as a private nurse for a time. He also worked in Las Vegas, NV, Baltimore MD, Kendall, FL, Los Angeles and Burbank, CA.

In 2006 Jim, Mark and Earl fell in love with New Mexico and moved lock stock and six cats to Silver City. Jim worked at Fort Bayard, St. Vincent Homecare, Gentive Home Care and ended his career at Gila Regional Medical Center as a Discharge Planner and Utilization Review Specialist. Jim was an over the top exceptional nurse; the one you wanted to take care of you or your loved ones. He always went the extra mile; sometimes spending his own time and money making sure a patient had what they needed. He made countless friends among the elderly community he served.

Jim had several passions and as many talents. His first love was cooking for others. His gourmet meals were unbelievably creative and delicious. Seven courses enjoyed by those he loved was not unusual. He was a writer, a painter and a self- taught plumber who always had a remodeling job underway. He had a huge, caring heart, especially for the elderly. That probably started with his time with Sadie and Oscar. He was a helper to the sick and vulnerable and anyone he considered a neighbor. He sacrificed his time and money to care for both of his parents at the end of their lives. He was incredibly selfless his entire life.

He was also the person who attended most extended family events and kept in contact with all of them (as evidenced by the 10 boxes of cards and letters he saved for his entire life!) He will be so missed by his best friends Earl and Mark Hunter, his brothers Bruce (Rhonda)Greenwood, Dick (Jan) Greenwood, TJ(Daina) Greenwood, Scott (Dawn) Greenwood and his Sisters Nancy (Curt) Severson, Deb Cox, and Katy (Tracy) Kovar as well as many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is also "furvived" by his special friend Daisy, Mark and Earl's sweet little Yorkie/Shih Tsu who was very loved by Jim and was with him on his last day.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents Dale and Marilyn, and his Nephew Jeff Severson. His great love Rosa, his Burmese housecat is with him in heaven as well.