James R. Slaven II

James R. Slaven II, 68, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015 at his home in Troy after a short illness.

Jim was born July 1 1946, in Dallas, Texas to James R. Slaven, Sr. and May Olive Petersen. Jim was the oldest of four children. In Jim’s early years, while his dad James Sr. was stationed in Camp LeJeune, N.C., with the Navy, he stowed away on a fishing boat. Jim loved to fish. The boat was three hours out to sea in the Atlantic when someone discovered Jim was aboard. No one on board knew who this kid belonged to, so they had to head back to port to find his parents. As a young boy living with his family in Oregon, Jim, Glen and Steve built a raft and talked Joy into being the first to try it out. They pushed it out into the Willamette River and Joy almost drowned. Jim graduated from high school in Selah, Wash., in 1965.

In December 1965 he enlisted in the United States Army serving until August 1970, when he received his honorable discharge. While in the Army he earned the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Jim left the U.S. Army with the rank of Sp5-E4.

After Jim’s honorable discharge, he went to college at J.M. Perry in Yakima, Wash., to become a licensed electrician. Jim worked as an electrician all over the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. Jim’s favorite spot to stash cash was in the electrical panel.  

Jim’s best hunting buddies ever were his daughter Katie and Wade Kidder. The stories flew between them. Jim’s biggest passion was the kids and being good to them. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5514 in Troy and a lifetime Cooties member.

Later in life Jim, along with his buddies, built the new VFW meeting hall in Troy. Jim was the boss. Jim thoroughly enjoyed building houses, garages, add-ons and sheds. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing and had fished the Pacific many times during his adult life. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Glen. We will always love and miss you.  Rest in peace until we see you again and hold hands.

Jim is survived by  Shauna Slaven of Troy; daughter Brooke “Katie” Slaven; son Ross and wife Joy and children Brittany and Dillon Savage, all of Troy; daughter Rhonda Clark of Tennessee; son James Slaven III of Yakima, Wash.; grandson Stacy Clark and wife Roseanne and children McKinzie and Jude; grandson James Woodall of Yakima, Wash.; a sister Joy Slaven of Texas; brother Steve Slaven of Yakima; Wash., half-sisters Suzie Hightower, Blanche Hardy, both of Texas; and VFW members and Auxiliary members, Wade Kidder, Dacia O’Neil, Roy Williams,  and Mark Olson.

Memorial services will be held in the summer of 2015 and will be announced. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory in Libby.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com