James Michael O'Malley passed away peacefully at his home in Leander on March 27th after a valiant battle with Type 1 diabetes and kidney failure. A talented artist with any tool—paintbrush, guitar, or frying pan—James spent his final moments surrounded by loved ones while listening to Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." He was 61.

Born in 1963 to Irma and Don O'Malley, James grew up just north of Dallas and graduated from Richardson High School, where he showed artistic promise from an early age. He earned offers to attend the Rhode Island School of Design and the Pratt Institute in New York, but decided to stay closer to home, enrolling at North Texas State in Denton. There, he met his future wife, Mary Beth; they married on January 17th, 1987—a rare snowy evening in El Paso—at Fort Bliss's Center Chapel.

James eventually transferred to Atlanta College of Art, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1988. By then, James was already an accomplished painter. Inspired by Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock, he created vibrant abstract work, and his pieces were acquired by collectors across the country from Texas to New York. James and Mary Beth moved to Austin in 1992; they welcomed their son, Neil, in 1993, and their daughter, Bridget, in 1996.

After several years working for an art gallery and framing store, James started a similar business of his own in 1996. He named the shop Zuma, a nod to his favorite Neil Young album. James had long played guitar for fun, but soon found himself enmeshed in Austin's music world, doing framing for local stations like KGSR and 101-X.

James loved white-water rafting, soaking up live music, tending to his garden, and playing frisbee golf (with his distinctively funky overhead throwing style). But in the early 2000s, his health began to deteriorate due to complications from diabetes. After he closed Zuma and began dialysis, his friends decided to start a band with him to lift his spirits. They called it Yellowgrass.

In 2008, James received a kidney-pancreas transplant—and a new lease on life. After recovering from the surgery, fronting Yellowgrass became his second act. The band started to gain a following, playing venues like the White Horse, Saxon Pub, Elephant Room, Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse, Sam's Town Point, and the Whip Inn. Yellowgrass even performed multiple times at South By Southwest, and released several independent albums along the way.

But kidney-pancreas transplants rarely function for more than a decade, and by 2019, James was back on dialysis, three times a week at a medical facility. He never complained, and never lost his wicked sense of humor. He still managed to express his creativity, especially in the kitchen; he auditioned—and earned a callback for—the reality TV program "Master Chef." In his later years, James leaned into collecting: Native American art, vintage toys, and all things Western, even appearing on the show "Pawn Stars Across America" to showcase his relics.

In mid-March of 2025, James made the difficult decision to stop dialysis and enter at-home hospice care. He lived his last days at his own house on his own terms, reminiscing with friends and family while listening to Neil Young—and spent his final afternoon on the patio cracking jokes.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and granddaughter. They remember him as a loving husband, dedicated father, talented musician, gifted chef, and brilliant artist who always stressed the importance of finding humor in even the darkest situations. His celebration of life will be held on May 4. Contact Bridget O'Malley (bomalley05@gmail.com) for details.