James Ira Ciliax

Obituary For James (Jimi) Ira Ciliax

10/25/1971 +++ 07/16/2025

For my beloved husband and soul mate; always and for eternity, in my heart... (I write this to honor you, your memory and share personal things your loved ones want to share). You left peacefully, gracefully, and without physical pain or fear.

You, with me by your side and our Lord's help, every step of the way, fought an unimaginable, difficult battle full of pain, suffering and great sacrifices for many long hard years while always worshipping our God, with your prayers. His many miracles, grace, mercy were always upon you, drawing us even closer too Him. My deepest love for you will never leave my heart. So many times near the end you wanted to give up... and I could never accept your giving up, not until the Lord showed me it was time. You fought a valiant battle with all your heart, out of your love for me and our family, and you finished the race my beloved, by learning to know God more fully and accept His love for you. You actually saw Jesus the day before you crossed over, and I was honored to be a witness to that.

Jimi said "Gina, there's a pure man dressed in a white robe standing beside me. He loves me sooo... much. Even more than you do. I never thought anyone could love me more than you." He asked me "Can you see Him?" I said "No... but I can feel His presence... there's a brightness suddenly in the room and it's not from the sun. I can see little specks of light floating everywhere I look." I had chills, goosebumps and I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jimi said "It won't be long now Gina, and I will be waiting for you with open arms when you come home." I asked, "Jimi, Do you know the man's name?" He said to me..."Uh, you dodo, you're the one who introduced us. You know his name." I said to Jimi "Yeah baby but I want to hear you say His name." Jimi kept looking to where the man was standing beside him... he looked back at me and said "Well of course his name is Jesus Christ but He told me He has many names and He is going to take me home to our Father. He is so beautiful Gina, and so full of love, and He wants you to pray right now." So we held hands, Jimi never took his eyes off of Jesus and I prayed out loud.

A few moments later, the light was still the same but I no longer saw the floating specks of light. Jimi said "He is still with me. I'm going home tomorrow." I knew in that moment that God was giving us just one more day together, and at the end you were no longer suffering, my love. You were lucid and cognitive and very comfortable.

You took your last breath while we were embraced in a kiss, our eyes open for one final look, holding hands. I pulled back slightly once so I could smile at you through my tears, to look you in the eye. You said to me "I've always loved your smile, your spirit, everything about you."

I've always loved your smile, I said and the way you look at me; I can see your heart, your love for me in your eyes Jimi." We embraced again, clenching one anothers hands and looking at one another very intently, embraced in a long kiss. You took your last breath on my lips while we were kissing. I lingered longer. You released your grip on my hands and then closed your beautiful eyes.

Our Aunt Mary Matthews Lee was witness, as was my younger sister Kimber Lee Matthews. It was 3:33 pm when you left me after fighting so long and hard. I knew, you told me "It won't be long now, and God showed me that you were going home soon. I will never forget anything about our lives here on earth. Our final moments were beautiful. We were honored by our God... though my heart is still shattered and broken.

I called our Saintly Aunt Mary and our sister Kimber. Bearing witness, I told them both that you had seen Jesus yesterday. I said "Jimi will not be here at the end of this day".

Your favorite verse:

Jeremiah 29:11 [NIV]

11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

(this verse has taken on new meaning for me)

Chosen, you are now an heir to the Lord's throne in His Holy Kingdom. Your future lies with Him and the loved ones who have gone before you. Through your goodness and the glory and honor you gave to God when you called upon Him to save you, I know that you now wear a crown meant for God's chosen children. You showed me what it truly means to be childlike in Christ!

James was known to his family and friends as "Jimi" although his father Carl Frederick Ciliax (Dad) still calls him Jim. At the time Jimi was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, Carl was married to Jimi's mother, now known as Charlotte Ritchie. Sadly their marital union did not last but Jimi knew that he was loved by them both.

The first few years of their young lives Carl remembers with the greatest of fondness...Carl's love of the outdoors with his toddler, then young son and their many fishing and camping trips together. Jimi also remembered them as some of the happiest years in his life as a child. He too had a love for fishing and camping. When Carl and Charlotte grew apart, she took Jimi back to Texas to her parents. Still, he was happiest when he was with his loving father and even later with his step mother Dana and his siblings, all. Jimi loved and adored Dana, his stepmom at that time, with all his heart and spoke about her to me often through the years. His love for her never stopped. He remembered that she always went out of her way to show him genuine love and kindness. She was a good and loving mother figure for him and he knew her love for him was as genuine as the love he felt for her.

Jimi had another younger brother by his father Carl and Dana. Cole Kelly Ciliax who had a tragic event while going to college in Hawaii and did preceed Jimi in his short life at age 24 (2002).

Jimi still has a beautiful, caring, loving younger sister, Amanda Barbara Ciliax Coats. Whom jimi missed and loved very much.

Jimi is also preceeded by his beloved, God loving, and beautiful stepdaughter, whose tragic passing was sudden and unexpected just a few short months prior (October 22, 2024) Simone Rene Parker Novak was only 36. She had been his loving and kind stepdaughter for many years.

He is preceeded by Dana just a week or so after Simone.

Jimi is preceeded by his father in law, James Norman Matthews, who loved Jimi as a son. They were extremely close.

Although he never met my beautiful mother, Bettiejon Veatch, he is preceeded by her passing 35 years ago.

Carl's life partner of many years, Beverly Wilson, whom we both love(d) very much, is still very much a part of our family. She is a loving, supportive, kind and brilliant woman.

Jimi spent years in Texas with his mother and her parents until she remarried and had his two younger brothers, Jack Dean Tucker and wife Monique our two beloved nephews, Jacob Bradley Tucker and Jaden Mikel Tucker. Jimi's second to youngest brother is Daniel Walter Tucker . Jimi loved them both and our nephews very much. We also have a beautiful loving young niece, Tristan Tucker. Jimi was fiercely protective over them growing up. Jimi loved all his brothers and sisters very much.

Jimi's grandparents on his dad's side, Jody (who was an angel on earth) and Grandpa Gus loved Jimi very much, and always made sure through the following years that they did everything they could to foster their love and connection with him. That included making sure Jimi could spend summers in Las, Vegas with his family making wonderful memories, such as visiting the casino where his grandmother once worked and knew Elvis. Jimi met a number of celebrities and was once even given a tiger cub to take home from an entertainer. Jimi loved telling me about those stories and times.

During the later years while Jimi was still young, he was encouraged by his dad to take part in BMX racing and was also exposed and introduced to the guitar by musician friends of his dad. Carl and his friend bought Jimi his first second hand guitar and amplifier, and his love of music and playing guitar was born that day. As an adult, Jimi's favorite guitar was named "Gus" after his grandpa.

Unfortunately, as years passed Jimi and his dad had lost contact. Jimi found his dad on the internet after years of searching. Their relationship was renewed, but sadly when he had finally found his dad, he was in the early stages of his illness. As told by Beverly, "Carl is very grateful for the care and love Jimi's wife Gina provided for my son for the many difficult years they faced."

Carl was able to visit Jimi a few times after finding each other again. They had a very emotional phone conversation the last week of Jimi's earthly life. They both expressed their love and forgiveness for each other along with sorrow filled tears of regret for the time spent apart. Jimi recalled to me that day that they both cried with such emotion that he could really feel how much his dad loved him and he knew that his dad could feel his love as well.

One name for Jimi above them all, that was uniquely him; a moniker that really stuck was "Top Jimi". A moniker given by his closest friend, a lifelong friend who is more than that. Troy Bradshaw is our brother and a most loved, dear family member to us. They were very close. Troy has on many occasions opened his home to Jimi and I both. He always helped when and however he could. He is also a civil designer, genius and brilliant musician. He is a man of integrity and true to his word. A man of honor. Jimi was named "Top Jimi" by Troy for several reasons. One of them as if to say "Top That". Jimi was also A HUGE fan of the band Van Halen, but in particular Edward Van Halen. Troy and Jimi couldn't be closer friends and brothers. Thank you Troy for all you've done through the years and all you represented in Jimi's life (and mine). Thank you for being who you wonderfully are. Also worthy of mention is his son Brandon, who we both love dearly are very proud of and loved watching him grow up to be the fine young man he is today with his lovely new wife, Cynthya, and his beautiful daughter with a heart of gold, Jesslyn. We love you Jess.

Jimi was a phenomenal human being on every level imaginable. Eccentric, quirky, always smiling, very humorous and truly the most gifted guitarist and musician I have ever seen or heard.

Side note: another dear friend of ours is Wayne Turner, who was the former guitarist for Hank Williams, Jr. for over 25 years and a very humble and gracious man. We all performed together on a few occasions with his latest band, which included one my former band mates and dear friend, the well known bassist Dan Workman.

Jimi was a naturally brilliant guitarist with a God given gift. He saw musical notes as spectrums of light and taste. He could play many instruments, but the guitar was his first love and you can hear it in the music he played and recorded. In his recordings, he plays every instrument and every part. He was a master of engineering a great recording with whatever equipment was available, as well as being a true guitar wizard, in addition to the many other gifts he was blessed with.

He is survived by me, his most loving wife Regina (Gina) Parker Ciliax, His loving father Carl (Dad) Frederick Ciliax and Carl's loving life partner Beverly Wilson. A supportive, loving and brilliant woman.

His beloved step daughter and son in law Randy and Ashton Wright and our beloved, cherished and adored grandsons; Farron and Ronin Wright, who all called him P~Pops. Farron and Ronin would call him up all the time to give him special smoothie recipes to help him feel better after researching for the right food groups.

Also, our loving son in law, Thomas Novak and our cherished and beloved Simone Novak's two sons, with whom Jimi was very close. He loved and adored them so much.

Jameson and Bradley Novak loved playing college with their P~Pops and I. Of course, Jameson was always the professor, "Professor Genius" and Bradley was principal "Brad Bear". They loved giving us "Brilliant A's" and if the answer was wrong, we would get suspended with a whisper in the ear "Still getting that A" but thought you might want some play time." Then we would all watch one of their favorite shows based on good morals. Then back to college we all four went.

Even through the years of his illness, Jimi remained very close to one of our best family friends, Gerald Berger, also an extremely talented bassist and fellow musician. He also maintained a close relationship with our step daughters and grandsons.

He is also survived by our Matriarch Aunt Mary Matthews Lee. She was more than an aunt to Jimi, she was a mother figure. Her love for God was very inspirational to us both, leading him to know and love our Lord even more. Jimi recalled to me many times, that when he was in a coma, he could always hear her soft spoken words and prayers in his ears, and he knew it was her, and knew in his heart, our Lord sent her to him.

The year the Houston Astros brought it home, we were all having a party in his ICU room at St. Luke's, where he spent a little over a year. That game renewed faith and hope for us all.

Jimi is also survived by my younger sister, Kimber Lee Matthews. They were extremely close. She was a sister to him. The day he went home, she drove from Austin to Houston to see him. On the phone she told him "You better not leave me before I get there!" She came running. He promised her he would not leave before she got there, and he kept that promise, he waited for her. Aunt Mary was already there.

Jimi also is survived by Kimber's three children whom he loved with all his heart. First, Brittney "Crash" Morgan Germany (a moniker Jimi gave her years ago), Jimi was so very proud of you for all that you have overcome and achieved on your own. Next is Christian Chandler Matthews (Thank you Christian for always being there when it counted the most and helping with everything. Jimi knew you loved him so very much and he loved you equally. You are a man of your word and your soul is pure). Finally, Chance James Matthews is our other beloved nephew. Jimi loved you very much. He carried that pellet you shot him in the hand with... he's still carrying it with him as a badge of honor. He always said. That boy is a firecracker and a genius. I love how he loves to take things apart to see how they work, he has the makings of an astronaut.

Additionally Jimi is survived by brothers in Law, James Richard (Ricky) Matthews, Keith Matthews Seigel, Phillip David Matthews and wife Amy, and many nieces, nephews.

**I want to make an honorary mention of a very special and dear friend of ours for many years before we knew of Jimi's illness, and to this day we have remained close. Dr. Estes, we love you!!!

I know this memorable story leaves so much that could be said. I thank God for us finding each other, and for finding true love at first sight. Jimi, you would stand up for anyone who needed help. You were a good man who if someone asked you to walk a mile you would walk them all the way. You gave me the most peace I've ever known and always treated me like a queen, accepting me for who I am. You live forever in my heart and no other will take your place. I am grateful for every moment we had together, my love. I love you Jimi....your eternal wife....Gina