James A. Horan, DVM
Jim Horan, an aspiring denizen of the welkin, caught
up to his horizon on Saturday, October 24th. Jim stuck his head into
an unsuspecting world on 14 May 1938, the firstborn son of Martin
and Bertha Horan whose union had formed when the rancher met the
school marm in Straw, MT, (that's about 10 miles south of Eddy's
Corner). Raised in Illinois, Jim moved to Montana after graduation
from the University of Illinois with a degree in veterinary
medicine.
He married his true love and best buddy,
Marilyn, in 1963. This sphere of happiness was expanded with the
addition of daughter Liz, son-in-law Scott Monson and grandsons Alex
and Ryan Monson.
Jim and Marilyn operated The Animal Hospital enjoying the
satisfaction provided by the pets and their owners, truly a bunch of
great people. After their retirement in 1995 Jim could fully enjoy
his interests in skydiving, bicycling and generally puttering around
with projects. He found that work sometimes interrupts a good day.
His younger brother Pat, who was killed by a drunken driver in 1964,
preceded Jim in death. Please Don't Drink And Drive.
Cremation has taken place and a private family service will follow.
A celebration of Jim's life will occur at a later date, in
conjunction with the Summer Solstice. Bring your Jim stories, happy
stories only are allowed. Any complaints will be ignored because
it's way too late.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jim's favorite radio
station: Yellowstone Public Radio 1500 N 30th, Billings MT 59101.
We'd like to share a skydiving poem composed by Jim:
The Step
It's not the narrow edge of
peril
But the entrance to the air
and the sky
Where we play, turning,
diving, rolling,
Floating fast in joint
ecstasy until
The lack of sky says we must
flee.
Then safely apart spread the
soft wing for a
Gentle flight back to where
we will start again.
One last message from Jim; Be
Gentle, Try to Understand Things.
Remembrances
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