James "Jim/Pope" Slayton

1926 - 2024

James (Jim/Pope) Slayton July 23, 1926 - June 4, 2024 Palmdale - Jim was born and raised in Pocahontas, AR; he moved to Broken Arrow, OK in 1944 where he met and married in 1945 his wife of 68 years, Wanda Lee Ridge. Jim and Wanda had twin daughters before they moved to California's Central Valley in 1948 where they welcomed a third daughter. In the early years in CA, Jim and Wanda picked cotton and worked in the air craft industries before moving to Manhattan Beach, CA in 1952 where they lived until they moved to Palmdale in 1973. Jim's passion in life was cattle ranching, hunting, camping and he was a long standing member of The Palmdale Fin and Feather Fishing Club. Jim never met a stranger, if you were his friend, you were considered family. Jim is survived by his three daughters Linda Nicholson (John II) of Lancaster, CA, Brenda Church (Don) Quartz Hill, CA, and Barbara Gale Nolan of Dallas, OR, three grandsons Scott (Christine), Jeff Nicholson (Rita), Lance Church (Brandi), six great grandchildren Colton, Kylie, Cody, Anthony, Cole and Jack, three great-great grandchildren Jameson, Charlotte and Henley, as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Jim was proceeded in death by his wife Wanda Lee Ridge Slayton, parents Edna Warner and Tom Slayton, Brother, Paul Slayton, Sister, Mary Ruiz, and Grandson John Nicholson III. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date