Jack G. Slayden was born in Pocatello, Idaho on December 26, 1946, to Charles Cecil Slayden and Hazel Ione Godfrey. He was the caboose of the family with three older siblings, Barbara, Dennis and Deanna. Deanna, his closest sibling, was 10 years older than him. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings.

Jack’s father passed away when he was just nine years old. Jack loved playing baseball as a kid and into his early adult years. When he was in junior high, he won a trip to the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair for selling the most subscriptions to the Idaho State Journal. Jack graduated from Pocatello High School in 1965.

Jack married Patricia Lish on May 27, 1967. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple for time and all eternity. They were blessed with four children: Jill Hudson (Craig); Jennifer Petersen (David); Matthew (Jamey); and Mitchell (Marci). He and Pat have eight grandchildren.

After jobs including bus driver and school custodian, Jack started his own business, Crackerjack Janitorial. He kept busy painting and cleaning carpets, the airport, and various banks and businesses. He was a “Jack of all trades”. In 1989, Jack went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a trainman and later as an engineer. He worked there until his retirement in 2011.

Jack enjoyed model trains, doing yardwork, watching sports, going to Costco and especially spending time with friends. He was a great friend to all and saw people he knew wherever he went. A friend of Jack’s was a friend for life. He and Pat enjoyed spending time in their 5th wheel (especially in Island Park and Yuma), playing pinochle and canasta, and traveling. Jack loved a good cruise, especially if his friends were there. Jack was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent time in various callings and working in the Idaho Falls Temple.

In October of 2021 Jack was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, and begrudgingly left his beloved home on Scott Street and moved with Pat to Grace Assisted Living. The family thanks the staff at Grace for their kindness and service to them. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

A viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm on Monday September 26, 2022 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at the Chubbuck 2nd Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4775 Hawthorne Road in Chubbuck, with a viewing prior to the service from 10:00-10:45 a.m.

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