Charles Lee "Charley" SLATER, SR.

October 4, 1934, Ruleville, Sunflower County, Mississippi
April 15, 2014, Baxter County, Arkansas

Son of Green Lee Slater & Bertha Florence Slater
Married Dorothy Annette Willingham, August 14, 1955
Mason

The Baxter Bulletin
April 18, 2014

Charles Lee "Charley" Slater was born October 4, 1934 to Green Lee Slater and Bertha Florence Slater in Ruleville, Mississippi. A beloved husband, father, great-grandfather, and friend to many in the community, he passed from this life April 15, 2014 at the age of 79 years and 105 days. He married Dorothy Annette Willingham August 14, 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Charles was a remarkable man in many ways. He attended Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi as a student of engineering. In his career he worked as a field supervisor and draftsman for an engineering firm in Jackson, Mississippi. He opened an electronics repair shop in Florence, Mississippi where he was Chief of the volunteer fire department, scoutmaster, Master of Masonic Lodge, and Patron of Eastern Star, as well as a member of the Baptist Church. In 1970 he and Dorothy moved their family to Arkansas. In 1972 he turned his mind again to engineering and his greatest love, surveying. He continued as a surveyor and served many years as the Baxter County Surveyor, working in this field until his retirement. He was awarded a lifetime membership to the Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors, serving on the Board of Directors, and as President of the Arkansas County Surveyors' Association. Charley was a resident of Gassville, Arkansas for 42 years, and served on the Gassville city council. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and the Missouri Pacific Historical Society. He was a life member of the Yellville Masonic Lodge #117, and in 2012 received his 50-year service pin.
Charley loved to teach; an avid reader and student of history, his children and grandchildren will have fond memories of the many lessons that he shared. A stickler for detail, a job had to be done right and that's the way he did it. In his retirement he developed a love for model railroading and built a truly remarkable railroad system with that same fine attention to detail. A craftsman in every way, he loved woodworking and a challenge of design of any kind.
With so many fine accomplishments, Charley's greatest love and joy was his family. The love that is shared within the family is the greatest testament to his life and accomplishments.
Mr. Slater is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy "Dot", of the home; four children: Charles "Sonny" and Gina Slater; Vicki and Fred Lewis; Linda and Rick Dye; and Ray and Paula Slater; all of Gassville, Arkansas; his sister, Jean and Harvey Turner of Mountain Home, Arkansas; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral service for Charles Slater will be Friday, April 18, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas with Pastor Noel Moore officiating. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will follow at Gassville Cemetery in Gassville, Arkansas.
Pallbearers will be Dusty Dye, Joey Dye, Charley Slater III, Tony Slater, Matthew Slater, Andrew Slater, Justin Morrow, and Daniel Grace.
Honorary pallbearers will be: All members of Yellville Masonic Lodge #117, Robert Willingham, Glen Cagle, Harvey Turner, Jimmy Kimbrell, and Roy Pope.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks, 701 Burnett Drive, Mountain Home, AR 72653

(Photo courtesy of Larry Havner)

Contributed on 5/23/14 by maxparnell
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Record #: 1005106

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