After nearly four years of fighting day in and day out, our friend, son, brother, cousin, nephew and husband is finally able to rest.  Austin left us on Thursday, just about noon.  Before dawn on Thursday morning, his breathing changed again. Longer pauses between breaths. Shallower and there was a new gurgle, a little more noise.  We hooked up the oxygen in hopes it made him even a smidge more comfortable. He was unable to really communicate but had some intermittent agitation.  His face was completely calm and I could hold his right hand in mine, which told me he really wasn't feeling much, if any pain.  

We called Travis and Aunt Patty to get those out of town on the road and headed this way. Friends came in and got to say their goodbyes.  Our Hospice nurse Jenette, came out to check on him.  She was unable to get a pulse, meaning it was already quite faint, nor was his blood pressure registering. 

Just a short while later, his breathing changed again.  We were all brought to his side and surrounded by almost all of the people he loved most in the world, and he just went to sleep.  I got to hold his hand in both of mine while he drifted from me.  It was blessedly peaceful.  And horribly heart-wrenching.  

What followed was what this family does best.  Rally.  There were plans to be made and meals to be eaten.  Food came in from all directions and funeral arrangements began.  Over the next 24 hours family and friends trickled in to town.  Hugs abounded and tears overflowed. The deluge of messages and posts to social media remembering and honoring Austin were and still are amazing.  I knew he was beloved but nothing as wide reaching as this.  

Saturday evening, the visitation, was probably the hardest thing I've ever been through.  I had not prepared myself at all. I think I kept allowing myself to believe that at the house he was just in the other room or out stretching his legs.  Never that he was gone.  Entering the chapel at the funeral home...I couldn't pretend any longer.  It was unbelievably hard.  At several moments, I didn't think I would make it through. But, I have the most wonderful family and friends that have come in over the last few days to pick me up and give me their strength.   

Today we're preparing for the service.  I fully expect it to rival yesterday's emotional punch in the gut but knowing that friends and family will be there to hold me up gives me the courage to face this day full on.  Whether it's a hug around the neck, a squeeze on the shoulder or a wink from across the room
their powers to calm the storm are quickly becoming legendary.  I don't have the words to express my gratitude.  I love you all for your devotion to me and to Austin.

Below is the obituary for Austin.

Austin Pichot

Claude "Austin" Pichot, 39, of McKinney, Texas passed from this life on March 8, 2018 at the family ranch in Beeville. He was born in Traverse City, Michigan on June 17, 1978. Austin spent his elementary and Jr. High years in Bakersfield, CA and graduated from James Taylor High School in Katy, Texas in 1996. He went on to earn his BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and began his career in Information Technology with e-Net Solutions in Houston, Texas. In 2005, Austin continued with I.T. at FedEx Kinkos and moved to Plano, TX. He loved his job with Microsoft as a Premier Field Engineer including the travel, working with his close friends and clients around the US.

After adopting his English Mastiff rescue dogs, Austin spent time at the Plano dog park where he met and fell in love with Amy McNeny and her rescue, Bella. They married in Key West, FL in November 2012. He and Amy were a fabulous duo. They traveled and shared a wonderful love for each other and their family and friends.

His battle with melanoma began in 2009. After five years of follow-ups at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, a biopsy revealed the disease had returned launching him into many aggressive treatments led by Doctors Amaria and Ross. With Amy always by his side, the full support of family and friends, and Austin's strong will and determination, he filled the last four years with as many wonderful memories as possible!

Austin's strong love for the Riggle family farm and ranch in Beeville and Pichot family in San Antonio, brought him to Texas during the summer every year. At his Granddad's side, Austin, along with his brother Travis and cousins Matt and David, spent the hot Texas summers learning the ropes of farming and ranching. Whether working cows on horseback or harvesting the corn, cotton and maize planted in the Spring, the boys worked and roamed the Riggle lands from dawn to dusk. At noon each day Grandmore had dinner on the table and work was paused as bodies and souls were nourished. In the evenings everyone headed down to the tank and with his trusty pocketknife Grandad would cut up a watermelon for all to share. Each week ended with church on Sunday morning and a day of rest, which included visits from family and friends around town. His Granddad's strong South Texas work ethic along with the adventures and lessons learned on the farm formed the man Austin became.

Austin earned his Eagle Scout award before leaving California, and he remained involved in Boy Scouts until he turned eighteen. He enjoyed planning for numerous trips and adventures, salt water fishing off the Texas or Florida coast, designing home theaters, and supporting numerous friend's and family's business endeavors. Throughout his moves from Bakersfield to McKinney, Austin cultivated many lifelong friendships through work, school and various exploits. His travels took him around the globe and nurtured his deep sense of adventure and spirit of exploration.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Frankie Luthringer Riggle and James A. and Willie Schueling Pichot and his cousin, David Huie.

He is survived by his wife, Amy McNeny Pichot and dogs, Bella and Lady; his parents, Claude E. and Cherry Riggle Pichot; his brother Travis and sister-in-law Chrissy Stewart Pichot, niece Sierra and nephews August and Henry Pichot; his brother-in-law Frank and sister-in-law Jessica Skinner McNeny, niece Gemma and nephew, Bennet McNeny; his aunt Janice Riggle and uncle Robert Huie; his first cousin Matt and Shambryn Wilson Huie, their children, Abigail, Riley and Zachary Huie; his aunt Patty Riggle and uncle Byrd Bonner; his first cousins Lou Caroline Bonner and Kevin Collins, Rosalie Bonner; his uncle Mark Pichot; his aunt Carol Pichot and uncle Byron Rogers, cousins, Rachele and Lance Rogers; and many other cousins from the Pichot, Schueling, Riggle and Luthringer families.

A visitation will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 5 to 7 pm at Galloway & Sons Funeral Home chapel.

The Celebration of Life Service will be conducted Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3 pm at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Travis Pichot, Matt Huie, Mark Pichot, Riley Huie, Frank McNeny, Tommy Mhire, Greg Clark, and Tom Carl.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Byrd Bonner, Bobby Huie, August Pichot, Henry Pichot, Sierra Pichot, Bennet McNeny, Gemma McNeny, and Zac Huie.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Austin's name at: The Melanoma Research Foundation, PO Box 759329, Baltimore MD 21275-9329 (www.melanoma.org) or The Duke and Oliver Foundation, 7943 Summit Cove, Fort Worth TX 76179 (dukeandoliver.org)

I'll end this with the chorus from one of Austin's favorite George Strait songs:

And my heart is sinking like the setting sun
Setting on the things I wish I'd done
It's time to say goodbye to yesterday
And this is where the cowboy rides away

♥amy