George Roy Slocum of Chehalis, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona, passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with lung cancer at the Casa Hospice at the Hacienda in Tucson, Arizona, on Jan. 26, 2022. George was born to Joyce Gertrude (Pope) Slocum and Robert Harold Slocum in Inglewood, California, on May 21, 1943. At a young age, the family moved to the Alisal Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, California, where George’s dad was a ranch hand and ferrier. Several times, the ranch hands had to leave their work to track down the wandering young child. It seems his adventures started at a very young age. George’s grandfather, Harold Slocum, bought a dairy farm near Turlock, California, when George was a young boy. It was here that he learned the value of a nickel. His grandfather handed him a bucket of crooked nails and was told to straighten them. They were to be used on the barn that was to be built. When George grumbled about the task, his grandfather said, “Each nail that you straighten is one less that has to be straightened.” That barn is still standing today. As a teenager, his mom and stepfather, Melvin Williams, moved to Patterson, California. Here, he enjoyed the friendship of several other teenagers. George worked at Melvin’s service station, breaking down split rim truck tires, a hefty job for a teenager. But after work, he still had the energy to get into mischief with his friends which usually involved various rotten vegetables and fruits being thrown from a car to smush into their rival’s cars. A fun time was had by all. George’s senior year in high school, the family moved to Gold Hill, Oregon, where he graduated from Central Point High School in 1961. On senior skip day, he joined the U.S. Navy because he didn’t want to be fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. He served in El Centro, California, at an air base, at Whidbey Naval Base on Whidbey Island, Washington, and aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Midway, off of Vietnam. He was a plane captain, which meant that he had to sign off on each of his assigned planes as being ready for the pilot to fly. His tours were with the heavy attack squadron 8.
George was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve with a rank of E-4 on May 25, 1965. He was discharged honorably on June 15, 1967.
Upon his release from active duty, George moved back to Oregon where he found employment in the lumber and plywood mills around the Rogue Valley.
During the 1970’s housing boom, George worked as a carpenter for Richard Yarnell. He helped build many homes from Grants Pass to Ashland, Oregon. When the boom fell flat, Richard handed him his final check and advised that he go right down and get a business license and a bond to be a remodel contractor. George took that advice and enjoyed 15 years of reworking, repairing and adding on to his clients’ homes.
In 1996, he and his wife, Janice, bought a Cal34 sailboat. They sailed the West Coast from Newport Shores, Washington, down to San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. They spent seven years traveling in their sailboat and their various RVs.
When Janice’s mother (Grace Eastman) passed away in 2000 and left Janice the farm home, they made Chehalis their home base. But with George being the adventurous type, they couldn’t stay put so after renting out the house, they became team truck drivers going cross country. Rhode Island was the only state in the lower 48 that they missed. In 2016, they retired from trucking and became snowbirds, traveling between Chehalis and Arizona.
George enjoyed many activities throughout his lifetime. Being a country boy, he would hunt, fish and ride horses. Later, he became a lifetime member of the Rogue River VFW. He was ordained at the Hope Presbyterian Church in Rogue River as a deacon. He was a member of the Rogue River Archery Club. He was instrumental in the Rogue River FFA program by instructing and encouraging participation in how to butcher a pig. He enjoyed working with the high school students on that project. He was a member of the Cougar Squares Square Dance Club out of Toledo. Through that club, he participated in creating the world’s longest ocean wave dance move at Ocean Shores, Washington. He was a member of the Pe Ell Gun Club and enjoyed target practice with his Thompson Contender.
George is survived by his wife Janice (Eastman, Crawford, Brandt) Slocum of Chehalis and Tucson brother John (Tami) Slocum of Medford, Oregon; sister Kathy (Steve) Ettinger of Medford, Oregon; sister Julie (Darrell) Bohnert of Gold Hill, Oregon; and brother Jeff Williams of Snohomish, Washington.
George is also survived by his former wives Jeanne Hass of Reno, Nevada, Connie (current name and location unknown) and Vicki Jo (Peairs, Spliethoff) Ensign of Elma, Washington. He is preceded by his third wife, Barbara Sue (Bishop) Butler.
George is survived by his daughter Yvette Slocum, of Imlay, Nevada; stepson Ronald (Shannon) Crawford of Bend, Oregon; son Jonathan (Rozeana) Bowman of Medford, Oregon; and son Daniel (Dannielle) Slocum of Drain, Oregon. George has 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom caused him much joy.
Donations made in his honor may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital online at stjude.org, by calling 800-608-3023 or by mail to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105. The stories and pictures of the children treated there melted his heart.
Memorial services are planned to celebrate his life. The first one is on July 23, 2022 at 11 a.m. at his home near Chehalis at 1185 Highway 603. The second one will be at his brother John (Tami) Slocum’s home in Medford, Oregon at 11 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2022. Please call 360-269-5685 for further information. God richly blessed George. Please come to celebrate his blessings.
