James E. Slater

James Edward Slater, 66, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away leaving behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, and stories that will be told for years to come.

Born and raised in Columbia, Jim was a University of Missouri Tiger through and through. If the Tigers were playing, Jim was watching, cheering, and more than likely offering his own colorful commentary on how the game should be played. He attended the University Lab School, Jefferson Junior High, Rock Bridge High School and the University of Missouri.

Jim spent much of his adult life in Steamboat Springs and Hotchkiss, Colorado, where he embraced the mountains with the same fearless spirit with which he embraced life, spending time on the slopes and trails in equal measure. While his work life included restaurant and catering businesses, he was also an incredibly talented woodworker whose skill and creativity could be seen in everything he made. The sheep wagon he made serves as the entrance to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, a lasting testament to his talent.

An avid reader and master of crossword puzzles, Jim was always inquisitive and absorbed information with passion. He also enjoyed travel, including helping a friend sail from Mexico to the US, traveling in Central America, spending a summer with his sister in Senegal and many winters with his mom in Alamos, Mexico.

Jim will perhaps be remembered most for his wonderfully mischievous personality. He was the life of the party, always ready with a joke, a prank, a story, or a little trouble that somehow made everyone around him smile. He had a rare ability to make people happy simply by being in the room.

Jim is survived by his sister, Moni, and brother, Randy, along with countless friends whose lives were richer, happier, and certainly more entertaining because they knew him.

He will be deeply missed, but knowing Jim, he would probably prefer that we raise a glass, tell a few inappropriate stories, cheer for the Tigers, and remember him with a smile.