Gale ‘Slick’ Slicton, 71, died suddenly on Saturday, Nov. 28 at his ranch near Milton in Calaveras County.

Mr. Slicton was a longtime area rancher and descendent of the Tuolumne County pioneer Dambacher family. He was born in Sonora, attended Shaw’s Flat Grammar School and graduated from Sonora High School.

He then went to work for Pickering Lumber and PG&E and began day work as a cowboy, which became his lifelong passion. He worked for Brooks Ranch near Jamestown, and in the early 1970s began his own cowherd and became employed by Dressler Ranch in Gardnerville, NV.

He expanded his cattle operation to the Moran Ranch at Milton, Rodden Ranch at Copperopolis, and Dressler Ranch at Bridgeport. For many years he lived the traditional cowboy lifestyle, living in cow camps, line shacks, and tending cattle on the foothills and high ranges of the Sierra Nevadas.

In 2000, he married Anita Moran and they lived on the Moran Ranch, east of Farmington, until his death.

He was very interested in perpetuating local cowboy history and was one of the few local artisans to make handmade cowbells.

He is survived by his wife, Anita Moran Slicton of Farmington; brother, David (Carole) Slicton; sister, Linda Slicton of Montana; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Slicton; and mother, Mabel Dambacher Slicton.

Service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home, Sonora, followed by a traditional cowboy burial at Milton Masonic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, 355 East F St., Oakdale, CA 95361.

Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home, Sonora, in charge of arrangements.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Dec. 2, 2009