James Palen

James N. "Jim" Palen, age 84, passed away May 16, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. Jim was born December 5, 1933 in Scott City, Kansas, one of six children. He attended schools there and left home at an early age to pursue his dream of working as a cowboy. He worked for Benny Binion at the Horseshoe Club in Las Vegas, NV for a time and later operated ranches in the northern Nevada for the Hyatt Corporation. At one time he worked as a stunt double for Clark Gable and provided the livestock the movie "The Misfits" Jim later made his way north to Idaho where he purchased a livestock sale yard in Burley, Idaho. During this time he owned and operated a trucking company hauling livestock in the northern area and into Canada. Jim was a licensed pilot and had rodeo-ed for a time. He came to Arizona some 25 years ago and purchased the "7 Lakes" Ranch in the Harquahala Valley. He attended the Aguila Community Church. Jim would be remembered as a "Cowboy's Cowboy" He knew the livestock and ranching trade and was good at what he did. Jim was preceded in death by his father & mother L.F. & Estelle Palen, sister Lucille Fetcsh, brother Bud Palen and brother Larry Palen. He is survived by his sisters Pat Sibbitt of North Glenn, CO & Karen Deslongchamp of Norman, OK and a brother Sam Palen of Belize.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Eagle Eye Cemetery in Aguila, Arizona.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Wickenburg Funeral Home.