James Reeve

Type of Donation:       Organ, tissue and Cornea

Age and Location:      Age 37 – Kingsburg, CA

Date of Donation:           04/26/2016

Sponsor:                      Honored by OneLegacy

JAMES’S STORY

James Mathew Reeve was a man of integrity. His family recalls a very hardworking, honest, loyal, loving man, with a great sense of humor and a touch of sarcasm. His heart was so compassionate for his family, animals, and racing. Whatever he set out to do, he gave it his all every time. His passion and hobby was drag boat racing. He was raised in Washington State, and from the time he was a baby, boating was a part of his life. His dream came true when he purchased his own drag boat and began racing for NJBA (National Jet Boat Association) in 2013. He would work all week as a Supervisor for Wilson Fire, where he was fully vested with Local Road Sprinklers Union 669 for over 10 years, and then would come home and tinker with his boat. This was a typical day for James. It was his therapy. Work first, then play, for James was what he lived by. In a crowd, he was always making others laugh, and they were always amazed by his knowledge of various things. Truly a man who was "wise beyond his years" at work, racing, and life in general.

James' life was taken suddenly at a boating event on April 23, 2016. He was 37 years old. A very healthy man. His family knew that James, being a selfless man, was a donor. He donated his organs, eyes, tissues and bone marrow. James' family look forward to the day when they get to meet or hear from any of his recipients. Knowing that James was a donor has helped educate and bring peace to his family members. It brought joy to their hearts during a very difficult time to know that other patients' prayers were being answered, as they received their phone calls and learned that James' organs were a match for them.