James Michael Hardesty

James Michael (aka "Patch") Hardesty, 51, of Morongo Valley, passed away on February 7, 2011. He was a native of San Bernardino and had lived in Highland for many years. Formerly, he had been a fisherman in Alaska and loved to work on computers.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Melissa Miller, or Oregon: sisters, Dona Bartholomew of Riverside and Camille Villanueva of Highland: stepmother, Jean Hardesty of Highland, niece Kayla Villanueva of Highland; nephews David Bartholomew of Fair Oaks, and Ian Villanueva of Highland and numerous aunts, cousins and friends.

The family wishes to thank his childhood friend, Danny Quayle for helping to care for Jim during his final years since becoming a paraplegic in 1986, and also his devoted friends, Ralph and Cheryl Joseph of Riverside.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 in the Valley View Chapel of Montecito Mortuary located at 3520 E. Washington Street, Colton, California 92324 (909) 825-3024. A reception will follow at the mortuary. A private graveside service will be held later in the week at Montecito Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078, to help find a cure for those living with a spinal cord injury. www.christopherreeve.org.Arrangements under the direction of Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary, Colton, California.