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In memory of

Earl Leroy Slater

Olympia, WA, USA

May 30, 1934 - January 4, 2020

May 30, 1934 - Jan 4, 2020

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Earl L. “Skip” Slater
~ May 30, 1934 – January 4, 2020 ~
Earl L. “Skip” Slater passed away January 4th, 2020 in Olympia, Washington at the age of 85 after complications from hip surgery in September.
Skip is survived by his wife Beverly, daughter Karen and son Kyle; grandchildren Brandie, Braydyn, Kris, Katy, Kayla and Kylie; numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and by those he treated as family. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sister and his son Kent.
Skip was born in Wenatchee, Washington in May of 1934 to Dorothy and Earl Slater. He spent most of his early life in the Wenatchee area, graduating from Wenatchee High School in 1952. He met his wife Beverly his senior year in high school and the two were married in the summer of 1954. Skip joined the Army and served in the Korean War in Panama; after discharge, returning to the Wenatchee area. Skip attended college at Western Washington University receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Education, later accepting a teaching position as an art teacher in Chelan, Washington at the high school. He spent many years teaching and making life-long friends in the students he taught and the people in the Chelan area.
Skip, Bev and Kyle moved to Alaska in 1976 to chase their dreams and spent many happy years there. Skip was a Magistrate in the small village of Nenana and later in Fairbanks where he was regarded as an honest and fair judge. They then returned to the state of Washington, living in Shelton and later moved to Olympia to be closer to family. Skip was a private pilot and owned his own plane, flying hundreds of miles with family and friends over the state of Alaska, enjoying that freedom.
Skip was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother-in-law, father-in-law and friend. He loved art and music and was a very talented artist. Skip was an accomplished carpenter, wood worker, mechanic and problem solver. He loved people and made friends wherever he went. He is and will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.
A celebration of Skip’s life will be held in the reception hall at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen Rd SE, Lacey, Washington on January 13th from 12 to 2 p.m.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

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