Paul Slayton

It’s hard to imagine a world without Paul Slayton in it but here we are. Paul went home to his heavenly Father and the absolute love of his life, Patricia, on December 17th, 2025. He peacefully left this earth in his home surrounded by lots of family, love, and his constant companion, Otis. Though we feel his absence to the depths of our souls, we are overjoyed to know that he is experiencing the promise that he held to so faithfully.

To know Paul was to know greatness. His wisdom and wit were extraordinary. You could ask him anything and he knew the answer. Even if you just sat and listened to his stories you knew that he was just made different. He was larger than life and if the story he was telling didn’t meet that expectation he would make it so! Paul lived big, loved big, and gave big. His heart for helping others was only out matched by his love for his family.

Paul was born on May 10, 1932 in Decatur, Texas to Charlie Wingate Slayton and Mary Ruth Fortenberry. His brother Billy was born three years later, in 1935 and preceded him in death earlier this year. Paul spent many of his early years reading the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper with his Papa Fortenberry at the Sambo place in Denton, Texas.

Paul was always working. As the story goes, at 8 years old, he would drop his mother off at work then fill their 1933 Chevrolet two-door plum to the ceiling with wood he’d cut to sell in town. At age 9, he started trapping on Heart’s Creek and selling opossum and racoon pelts to the Montgomery Wards store. At age 11, he worked as the school janitor and at 12 he washed pots and pans for the Lubbock Army Airfield and had a part-time job setting up pins at the local bowling alley. After that he took a job with a body shop and worked with cars for many years even owning two wrecking yards, one in Hobbs, NM and another in Roswell, NM.

His life changed the day ‘he met a girl’ which is also the title of his autobiography. Paul met Patricia while driving in his yellow 1948 Ford convertible, his first car. He was 16 and she was 14 working at the A&W root beer stand. Both were older than their years having taken care of each of their respective families; a trait they continued throughout their lives. He said upon first seeing her that she was ‘too much girl for me.’ She said ‘Paul was the most handsome man she ever laid eyes on’. They were lovingly married for 66 years.

Paul said Pat kept trying to get him into anything other than cars. It was ultimately one of her dinners with the neighbors that got Paul interested in the oil and gas business. Pat always saw Paul’s potential and believed in his ability to fix anything. With her help, Paul built a legacy of wealth, buying and selling first cars then oil and gas. When asked what Paul did for a living, Pat answered, ‘he thinks.’ And he did, he was always figuring and looking for the next deal. Paul was one of the sharpest and most intelligent people even though he would never tell you that. He always said Pat was the smart one and he was just poor and pitiful. He passed at 93 years old and ran his company right up till the end.

Paul is survived by his four children, Jack Slayton and wife Mickey, Roger Slayton, Denise Allison and husband Woody, Scott Slayton and wife Mona; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren with two more on the way. He

was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Mary Ruth Slayton, his brother, Dr. Bill Slayton, his wife Patricia Ann and his granddaughter Nicole Slayton.

Paul credited Patricia as the reason for his success but also for his generosity. Together they set up the Slayton Foundation, whose primary purpose is to help retired pastors, missionaries, churches, boys and girls homes and other community needs. The focus of the foundation is spreading the gospel of Christ along with child and family welfare.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Paul to the Slayton Foundation, PO Box 2035, Roswell, NM 88202. Visitation will be held at LaGrone Funeral Chapel, 900 S Main St, Roswell, NM, from 4 to 6 pm on Friday, December 26, 2025. Viewing will be held from 9 to 10 am Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Roswell Baptist Church 700 E Berrendo Rd. Roswell, NM, followed by Services from 10 to 11 am. Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at lagronefuneralchapels.com.

Pall bearers: Michael Slayton, James Allison III, Andrew Slayton, Dylan Summers, Mario Chavez, Matthew Villanueva, Landen Martinez, and Asher Winkles.

Honorary pall bearers: Mark Villanueva, Timothy Summers, Vince Martinez, Josh Winkles, Davis Morrow, Joey Woodard, Aaron Limon, and Colton Speis.