Tragedy into Triumph
by Rebecca Utley-Baker
Ten years ago, I experienced the unimaginable loss of my oldest brother, John, who died from a heart attack at the age of 47. His sudden passing left my family in shock, as there were no signs of heart disease beforehand. This tragic event left a profound impact on our family.
A year and a half later, my younger brother, Jim, tragically took his own life during a meth addiction episode just before his 35th birthday. The coroner reported that Jim likely didn’t even realize he had a gun in his hand due to not having eaten or slept for six days.
Jim Utley was the youngest of our five siblings. We spent our childhood in West Plano. From an early age, he was exposed to drugs while in middle school. Like many kids, Jim experimented with substances and alcohol. Throughout his adult life, he struggled with addiction. I believe underlying and untreated health issues contributed to his early use of gateway drugs as a means of coping. What began as occasional alcohol and marijuana use escalated to the consumption of cocaine and methamphetamine.
I had a close relationship with Jim, but he shared an especially strong bond with our mother. She often told me that he made her feel liberated, which I understood; Jim had a vibrant energy about him.
My mother and I were with Jim when he died. We were in the adjacent room when the haunting sound of a gunshot reached us. I broke down his locked bedroom door, and we held him as he took his final breaths. I was unsure if my mother would recover from this tragedy. I fell into despair, letting all my marketing clients go and struggling to work, sleep, or eat for three years. Our family mourned deeply; the loss of such a bright light left us in disbelief. I wished for the world to stop, but life continued on.
In 2008, with my parents’ support, I established The Jim Utley Foundation. This organization played a crucial role in helping us cope with our loss while reaching out to youth with an important message about drug abstinence at a younger age. Our foundation engages with schools, churches, and youth organizations throughout the year, addressing complex issues related to drugs, including handling peer pressure. JUF promotes living life free from street drugs, and we have expanded our focus to include information about the misuse of prescription medications. Our goal is for young people to reconsider trying drugs, even once.
Additionally, JUF provides a unique online reward program for tweens and teens called Test Yourself, which is currently being updated. The new mobile app, set to launch in late August 2015, will reward youth ages 10-17 for achievements such as maintaining good grades, participating in community service, and engaging in organized sports and clubs—activities that help keep them occupied and out of trouble. Jim’s legacy continues to do great things in our community.
ROCK THE BLOCK RUN BENEFITS THE JIM UTLEY FOUNDATION
The 6th Annual Rock The Block 10k, 5k & Fun Run, taking place on Saturday, May 23rd (Memorial Day Weekend) at Oak Point Park in Plano, Texas, benefits The Jim Utley Foundation. Rock The Block supports JUF’s mission of helping kids lead drug-free lives and discover the advantages of healthy, productive living. To register, visit RockTheBlockTexas.com. Bring the whole family out to run, walk, or crawl—whatever it takes! We also need a dedicated group of volunteers to help host an event of this size. If you’re interested in volunteering, donating, or sponsoring JUF, please visit DontEvenTryIt.org. JUF is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit.
Here is the link to sign up: http://donteventryit.org/newsevents/rocktheblock.html
