James Ryan Sexson (2009-2021)

Mass of Christian Burial for James Sexson age 12 of Kilgore will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 at 10:00 AM MT at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nenzel. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Nenzel. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, Nov. 17th at 6:00 PM MT at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nenzel. Visitation will be at 5:00 PM MT prior to the rosary at the church In Nenzel. James passed away on Nov. 14, 2021 in Omaha. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines is in charge of service arrangements

Cowboy’s Story

James Ryan Sexson was born February 16, 2009. He surprised us all with his arrival, bursting his way into this world after a long day of hauling cattle home from stalks. I drove all day on icy roads as a part of the hauling crew. I never suspected that, in the wee hours of the morning, I’d meet my cowboy, why would I? He was 5 weeks early, not due to arrive until March 17th. Uncle Bill was excited about James’s due date, as he’d have been born on Grandma Gertie’s birthday. That was Uncle Bill’s plan. James had a different plan; he was born through a placental abruption, an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and an emergency c-section, a miracle.

Aunt Dano was his angel that day, too, greeting him upon his arrival, the first to hold him and welcome him into this world. James and I “pulled through” with flying colors, neither realizing the depth of the situation. James was my cowboy from the start. I loved him the second I knew him, and not long after I met him, he became “Cowboy”. I was totally in love!! In my arms was a perfect little boy with the biggest brown eyes I’ve ever seen, eye lashes that went on for miles, and beautiful olive skin. You’d never have know his arrival was early, weighing in at 7lbs. 6 oz. He didn’t need extra care, no NICU or special meds. James was strong and healthy, and he had things to do.

Cowboy had the most adventurous little spirit. He was always moving, always learning, and always on the go. He had a stubborn streak; he got that from his dad 😊. He wasn’t afraid to let you know his thoughts, either with his words or his priceless expressions(those came from me) 😊. Cowboy has always been articulate. He walked into Uncle Bill’s kitchen one day, at a whopping two years old. Mom was baking, and James took a deep breath, breathed in, and announced, “Grammy, those cookies smell delicious!” We all stopped and smiled at his wondrous little two-year-old vocabulary.

Cowboy loved learning and had an amazing comprehension level. He soaked in every word, every piece of information he could find, especially about animals and science. He was pretty tough to beat at a game of Concentration. He could beat us just with his knowledge of fish species. Cowboy loved watching shows like Nat Geo, Marty Stauffer, and Wild Krats. He’d learn about some crazy species like a mud skipper or a flying fish and ask Aunt Dano to turn it into his birthday cake. She always delivered, even at the request of Little Foot, a long neck brontosaurus from one of his favorite movies. That cake was so cool! It was 3-D and standing on 4 legs. James beamed when he saw that cake!! Aunt Dano loved making him smile, even with his wild cake requests. She’d roll her eyes and through laughter tell me, “ Stop letting your kids watch National Geographic”, but she always delivered, always.

As Cowboy grew, so did his love for the outdoors. He loved to hunt! He’d go out before school, just in case there was a dove to shoot. James would gather his Chipper dog and shotgun and out the door they’d go. That dog was his pride and joy. He saved his own money to get her, and he worked hard to teach her to retrieve. She adored Cowboy, and loved the hunt as much as he did, doing her best to bring back whatever he shot: a dove, a pigeon, even his first turkey. Cowboy looked forward to deer hunting, too. He loved to spot deer, watch them move, and try to catch them on his game cams. He was so proud to tag his first deer. I will forever treasure that hunt with him, sitting with him and spotting his deer. He was so excited!! I had given him the go-ahead, “If you’re comfortable, take your shot.” Two seconds later, he squeezed the trigger. “I got him!! Come on, Mom!!” He’d made his shot, 352 yards, across a rolling flat at a buck walking through the trees. I could barely keep up with him, as we ran to get his deer. It was an amazing first hunt, a memory to treasure forever.

Sharing his love for hunting and the outdoors only deepened his passion. “It’s not fun to go by yourself, Mom.” And so, he’d drag Addie along to find a black bird, a pigeon, or a dove. They were fantastic hunting buddies, spending hours walking pastures. James made sure she enjoyed her first turkey hunt, and he was over-the-moon excited to be with Addie when she got her first deer. He told me when we were scouting for deer, “I don’t even care if I get a deer, Mom. I just want Addie to get hers”. He loves you dearly, Munch. He wanted you to have so much fun! He also cheered Rylie on when she shot her wall hanger last year. There wasn’t even a hint of disappointment when she bagged her buck, only true genuine happiness for her success. He was even more excited when Rylie decided she’d shoot trap. “She’s so good at everything she does”. He loved watching you play basketball and rope calves. He loves you so much, Roo.

Cowboy also loved fishing; it could have been on his schedule every day of the year!! Cowboy was so persistent when he got a idea in his head. He’d set up fishing plans or kayaking trips, and he was relentless in his requests, not letting up until we got to go. I’m so glad he did! He made sure we slowed down and took time for fun. We loved fishing with him! I have no doubt Uncle Bill will make sure those fishing trips still happen, and I’d imagine they’re chasing rabbits and pigeons, too.

Maybe my favorite part of Cowboy, though, is the way he loved others. He lived to make people happy. Whether he was sharing a joke, stopping to visit with someone, or sharing a hug, he had time for everyone! It didn’t matter if you were two or ninety, if Cowboy could make you smile, he took time to make it happen. His gifts were for everyone. He loved Christmas shopping, too, picking a perfect gift, one that would inspire a smile, but it didn’t have to be Christmas to inspire his generosity. I don’t know how many times I received a gift just because he loved me, no other reason at all. I’m going to miss those gifts, expressions of his love. Cowboy loved sharing compliments. He had a knack for noticing someone else’s beauty and making sure he took time to tell them. He was never afraid to share a hug. We love that about him! We’re missing him so terribly, but as our hearts are breaking, there is peace in knowing that he is giving the greatest gift of all.

Cowboy loved an adventure. He was forever riding his dirt bike and trying new places to jump. He also loved football and was proud to be playing center for the Cowboys and starting Special Teams. Besides being a C-K Cowboy, he was a fantastic cowboy with his horse. He adored Doc, his high private when he started to rope, and he loved roping with his dad. Ryan shared his skill of roping and riding with Cowboy. Together, they won matching team roping buckles, treasures filled with memories and love. He was really looking forward to roping on Rocket, dragging calves to the fire and doctoring. Rocket was his buddy, and James did a pretty amazing job of starting him. He loved that horse, and was so proud to own him, and even more so to share him with others.

James was such a special cowboy. He had a heart of gold, and he shared everything he had. Any time an opportunity arose, he was planning a family supper, having a stayover at Grammy and Grampy’s, or gearing up to celebrate a holiday. He had big plans of being a professional hunter, and he was working on his marksmanship, shooting .22, trap, and archery in 4-H. He loved shooting! The Cherry County Fair was one of his favorite events. Shooting sports, goats, dogs, horses, and poultry, he was excited for every class he entered!! He beamed when he won a grand champion, his hard work paying off, but he was equally excited when it was one of his friends. The 4-H ring will miss him, and we’ll miss seeing his smiling face as he worked for his purple ribbons.

James shared a love of music with all of us. He loved to sing, and he loved all kinds of music: a little country, a little pop, some techno, and a touch of beat boxing😊. He was so excited to be starting percussion! His love for God shined through his love for music. After watching “God’s Not Dead” Cowboy, became a huge fan of the News Boys. He loved to turn them up and jam out on a trip to school or checking pastures. He could often be found singing, even when there was no music playing. “God’s Not Dead” also helped seal his faith in God. He was truly saved, and had no doubt in who his Savior was. James even shared his faith with his CCD class, telling them he knew God was real and he would never wonder again. I love that story!!! James is in Heaven with Jesus; there is no greater peace.

I could write for hours about Cowboy, our favorite little boy in the world, named after Grampy, me, and Ryan. He was such an incredible gift that will be treasured forever. He touched so many lives with gifts only he could give: his smile, his huge hugs, love that he shared with everyone, and in his final moments, life. God blessed us with his life, and there’ll never be another. We love you, Cowboy. We love you, always. ~Mom

I love you, even when you’re naughty. ~ Love, Dad

Everyone loves you, Cowboy!! Aunt Dano, your sisters, all of your family, your friends, your Sandhill’s family, your family from school, your football family, your hospital family, and from all over the world, your prayer warriors ~ the best kind.