James William Slater, 59

James William Slater, 59, of Great Falls, formerly of the Flathead Valley, died May 17, 2006, at the VA Regional Medical Center, Fort Harrison. The cause of death has not been determined by the coroner at this time. James was a self-employed mechanic and a U.S. Army veteran.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel in Great Falls. Rite of Committal will be afterward in Highland Cemetery with military honors. O'Connor Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his ex-wife and friend, Diana Dorris, of Kalispell; daughters, Diana Slater of Great Falls, and Elizabeth and Dennis Greenwood of Great Falls; son, James, and Lynelle Slater of Martin City; sisters, Barbara and Steve Saint of Ennis, Daneen and Barry Schultz of Kalispell, and Dena Wood of Columbia Falls; brothers, George and Shirley Slater of Great Falls, Joe and Cheryl Slater of Great Falls, and Tom Slater of Alaska; 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Curly and Ceil Slater; a nephew, Joey Dewolf; and a great-grandson, Tyler Greenwood.

James was born Oct. 7, 1946, in Devils Lake, N.D., and was raised in Montana. He married Diana Dorris in 1966 at Bonners Ferry, Idaho; they later divorced.

James was a member of the U.S. Army, and served proudly in the Vietnam War. He owned and operated his own business most of his life in the Flathead Valley. He enjoyed working hard, spending time with family and friends, and going fishing.

Jim was a wonderfully friendly, generous and outgoing man who made friends of everyone he met. He was the cornerstone and center of our family, and is very irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.

Jim's goal was to make sure that he left everyone he met smiling.