Sometimes the work we do here hits too close to home.
One of our members at XtremeSystems passed on December 28,2009 after battling bladder cancer for the past 2 years.
His name was Jon Magoon known as loonym on the forums.
A guy that you'd describe as a 'simple and nice guy".
I had the pleasure to meet him and his daughter Annabelle twice in 2009.
He and she lived in a modest house in Ellsworth,Maine.
When you met them what you saw was the love between both as she was as described in his obituary "The joy of his life"
Jon himself would tell you that his life didn't have much meaning before she was born but totally turned around afterwards.
She is this little bundle of energy that went non-stop with a smile from ear to ear. Just enjoying life.
The bond between them was stronger than anything I'd ever seen and a joy to behold.
I know Jon was in a lot of pain when we last talked and if anything "good" can be said it's that the constant pain is over for him. When he showed me the medications he took on a daily basis I had all I could do to keep the tears from my eyes that any human being would ever have to go through this.
Through it all he kept up a strong face to his friends and was a very positive person that I was privledged to meet.
I'd also like to add that in this day of big slow moving government that the state of Maine did all needed to make sure that his last wishes for Annabelle would be as he wished and she will be raised by the couple that watched her while he made his many trips to the hospital for treatment over the last two years.
Rest in Peace my friend.

Here is his obituary:

ELLSWORTH - Jonathan Mark Magoon, 48, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, after a long battle with bladder cancer. He is survived by the joy of his life, his three-year-old daughter, Annabelle Magoon of Ellsworth; her mother, Sue Magoon of Canada; his father, R. Carl Magoon; his sister, Carla Magoon; his nephew, Joshua Estes of Ellsworth; his stepdaughter, Leah Pomeroy and her partner, Jose and their three children, Nicolas, Jose and Iesha; his former wife, Tammy Magoon; many cousins, aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his brother, Jeffery Martin Magoon; and his mother, Rachel Sargent Magoon. Jon was a graduate of Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute and was a skilled welder for many years. He was a loving father and good friend. A gathering of friends and brief service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at St. Joseph's Parish Hall, High Street, Ellsworth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a fund for his daughter, Annabelle Magoon Donation Account, care of Union Trust Co., 66 Main St., Suite 101, Ellsworth, ME 04605