James A. "Jim" Pyles

James A. "Jim" Pyles, Jim passed away on April 28, 2006, in Mesa after a long battle with cancer. He was 84. Born in Florence, Colorado on February 22, 1922 to Oscar and Phoebe Pyles, he was one of three children. After graduation for high school he joined the Navy and served overseas during WW II. He was discharged in 1946 and moved to Phoenix where he later met and married Marie Grandstaff. They traveled the mid-west while he worked while he worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator. They returned to Phoenix where he later went to work for Ford Proving Ground. In 1955 Ford moved the Proving Ground to Yucca, Arizona. At that time he relocated his family to Kingman. They purchased a home there and spent the next 50 years in the same neighborhood with friends and co-workers. Together he and Marie raised their four children Pat and Connie Grandstaff, Vicki Pyles and Barry Thomas. Jim had a passion for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He instilled that passion in his wife, children and grandchildren and together they enjoyed many yearly vacations to the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. After his retirement from Ford in 1980, he and Marie enjoyed traveling in their motor home throughout the country to visit family and friends. Jim is survived by his wife Marie of 58 years, daughter and son-in-law Connie and Butch Slaughter of Las Vegas, NV., daughter and son-in-law Vicki and Ellis Taylor of Mesa, AZ., and son and daughter-in-law Barry and Shari Thomas of Gilbert, AZ; 5 grandchildren Lisa Slaughter of Las Vegas, Chris Slaughter and wife Starla of Las Vegas, Brandon Duey of Mesa, Camaron Cook and Katherine McHargue of Redding, CA and 5 Great-Grandchildren Brian and Chad Thomas, Amber Kautz, Zack McHargue and Sierra Salughter. He was preceded in death by daughter Patricia Cook, sister Opal Mills, brother Bill Pyles and mother Phoebe Horton. The family plans to privately celebrate and honor his life with a gathering in the White Mountains in June. The family requests that donations be made in his name to Hospice of the Valley, East Mesa PCU, 6063 E. Arbor Ave., Bldg. C, Mesa, AZ 85206. Arrangements entrusted to Sonoran Skies Mortuary, Mesa, Arizona.