James Ralph Slaton, age 82, peacefully passed away on Saturday, November 27 2021, surrounded by his beloved family. He was born on February 27, 1939, to James Daniel and Dicia Walters Slaton.  He is preceded in death by his parents, an older brother James Henry Slaton, parents-in-law Roy and Frances Busby, sister-in-law Faye Busby Walker, an infant daughter, and his spoiled pets Buffy and Kasey.

He will be greatly missed by his adored wife of 62 years, Willa Dean Busby Slaton and his two sisters-in-law, Clarice Busby Hartshorn (Norman) and Eloise Busby Graham (James); brother in-law, Warren Walker; his children, Dr. Karen Slaton, Kimble Slaton (Susan), and Karla Barnes (Bryan), grandchildren Kiefer Slaton (Haley), Emily Carter (Sam), Leah Winger (Daniel), and Marian Thomas (Nathan), and his great grandchildren Violet Carter, Joel Winger, Lucy Carter, Piper Thomas, Leona Carter, Chloe Thomas, and soon to arrive Jordan Winger.

He is survived by his siblings Jack Slaton, Billy Ray Slaton, Ray Slaton, and Faye Craft, as well as a host of nieces and nephews whom he absolutely cherished. Uncle Ralph was a favorite and always up for fishing and Kubota rides around Busby Drive.

Ralph worked for many years as a Maintenance Electrician and retired from Rowan Companies of Houston, Texas. He had the gift of repairing anything that needed repairing.  He was a devoted Christian and loved playing guitar and singing old gospel hymns.  His hobbies were eating his wife's cooking and fishing.  He also loved telling jokes.  Our favorites were the ones where he would get so tickled that he couldn't finish telling them.  His laugh was quick and infectious.

Ralph had a huge heart for hungry children and would go out of his way to feed everyone he could.  If you are so inclined, in his honor, buy a meal for someone who needs it this holiday season.

Services will be held at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, MS., Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 11:00AM. Visitation will be 10:15AM until the hour of service.

Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ( www.stjude.org )