James "Jim" Baylor

James Larry Baylor was known as Jim or Jimmy to his friends, families, and neighbors. He was born November 8th, 1948, to Floyd E. Baylor and Helen M. Baylor (Shepherd) at St. Ignatius hospital in Montana. He was the youngest boy of the 9 children of Floyd and Helen brought into the world. Jim passed away on the morning of September 25th, 2025, after a long battle with vascular dementia.

His lived in several small towns around Plains, Montana, finally settling in by the beautiful Thompson River where Jim graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 1967. Growing up, Jim fished, camped, and played music with siblings and family friends. Often looking up to his 3 older brothers, Jim picked up skills in carpentry, hunting, and mechanics. He often reminisced about family music nights where sister Sherry and brother Dave would play the fiddle while their father strummed the guitar and others sang and danced. Old time fiddle music brought him so much happiness.

He was drafted into the US Army in 1970 and completed training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, eventually serving as a surgical technician at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado during the Vietnam War as specialist fourth class. He received an honorable discharge and a good conduct medal.

In December of 1970, Jim married Pamela Martin, and they moved to Missoula, Montana where he completed education at the Missoula Technical Center and found work in the electrical supply sector. In 1973, Jim and Pam welcomed their first born (Andy Baylor of Seattle). In 1976 the young family moved to Anchorage, Alaska where Jim continued working in the electrical supply distribution industry until late 1977 when they returned to Missoula to be closer to family. In 1980, Jim began work at Safeway Supply (Edge Construction) in Missoula as manager where he stayed until retirement. Shortly after beginning at Safway Supply, Jim and Pam welcomed their second child, Alicia Baylor (Missoula) and moved to Florence, Montana where they built a home just in time for baby number three, Molly Baylor (Missoula).

Jim was a steadfast lover of the Montana wilderness outdoors with immense love and respect for nature, rivers, and animals, often taking his children on long rides through western Montana and teaching them about native plants, animals, and how to fish. His favorite things to do were taking long rides on mountain roads, fishing, hunting, and picking huckleberries. From a young age, Jim loved and raised all kinds of animals and into his later years held close to his heart several cats and horses – often finding the funniest nicknames and teaching them tricks. For several years after retirement, Jim worked with local agencies to give unhoused individuals support, housing opportunities on his 5 acre estate, and rides to education opportunities and medical appointments. He was the caretaker to many vulnerable individuals including former veterans and his friend’s father who suffered a stroke.

In his later years, Jim’s physical ability became limited as the progression of dementia took parts of his functioning away slowly. He was still able to take long rides up mountain roads - this time as a passenger, tapping his toe to Hank Williams and CCR and stopping at small town cafes to devour huckleberry pancakes with his daughter Alicia. Jim loved going to the National Bison Range and marveling at the baby bison. Being home bound in later years, Jim loved to tinker around his property and take care of his lawn. He became a huge football fan cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seattle “Seabirds”, and, of course, the Montana Grizzlies.

Jim is survived by his three children (Andrew, Alicia, and Molly Baylor), his two grandchildren Austin and Elise Adams (Missoula), his sister Sherry Weingart (Idaho), several nieces and nephews, his sister-in law Carol Aldrich (Thompson Falls), and his beloved cat, Bear. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, 7 siblings (Ed, Bruce, Dave, Serena, Bonnie, Bernie, and Lori), and his sister in law Ruby.

The family would like to thank the staff at Missoula Health & Rehab who gave Jim privacy and dignity in his final months and comfort in the hospice program the last three weeks of his life. There were countless individuals who stepped in to help support Jim in his final years so he could remain living at home including his regular Meals on Wheels delivery drivers, Julia Lippert, Deb Jackline, Lisandro Soriano, Fred Micini, Jory Hermes, Bonnie & Bobbie, and Pam.

Per Jim's request, he will be cremated, and a ceremony will be held at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a small donation to the Meals On Wheels Program or the Humane Society of Western Montana.