James (Jimmy) Bardsley - Jr.

Jimmy was such a fun boy to have around. I always enjoyed raising him, spending time with him, doing whatever or nothing, from the time he was little, all the way through turning 19.

He was such a HAPPY little boy, shifting the energy in a room just by entering. He wasn’t shy and was happy making friends everywhere he went.

He loved sports as a kid; excelled at baseball, had a great arm, and could climb literally anything. He accepted every challenge with vigor, diving in. You didn’t issue Jimmy a dare lightly because he WOULD accept it and make you cry with laughter or cover your eyes in fear.

He didn’t love school but he loved seeing his friends every day.

When he was in elementary school, his intelligence was tested due to his restlessness in classes. It was through the roof and the teacher and school admin urged me to let him skip a grade and even still, be in an accelerated curriculum.

I decided against having him skip ahead. Jimmy was already nearly a full year younger than many of his peers. They would be (and did) getting their driver’s licenses sooner than him, experiencing the freedom that comes with it sooner than him, and the list goes on. So adding another school year to that gap didn’t feel right for him. Additionally, his emotional maturity wasn’t ready for that kind of peer jump.

He was a Nolensville High 2020 graduate, (the year of drive-through and July high school graduation ceremonies), deciding not to continue his formal education right away, he went to work at a local mechanic shop “just to learn all I can”. He also worked three-four nights per week for a local pizza restaurant, making deliveries.

When he felt he had learned all he could at the mechanic’s without enrolling somewhere, he moved on to Howard’s Honda, hungry to learn everything he could about motorcycles.

He had purchased his first motorcycle during this time and had truly come alive again; he had found his passion. We talked about his interest in becoming a bike mechanic, the possible schools he was looking into.

Soon after trading up to his second bike, (paying cash for both bikes), he moved to part time with Honda, was still working part time at Amico’s Restaurant, and began working full time with one of his best friends, building outbuildings.

He died doing what made him most feel alive. Riding.

Remember most his smile and laughter, his beautiful kind heart.

More to be added on another day*