Person Page

     Robert Joseph Bieskie was born on July 19, 1924 in Jackson County, Michigan.²
     Robert married Hazel Laura Slade, daughter of Harold Keith Slade and Hazel Lenore Slusser, on January 30, 1944 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan.³ Robert was widowed when his wife, Robert, died on May 30, 2010 at age 85.¹ He was buried in Albion Memory Gardens, Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan.¹

     Eileen Fern Stettler was born on January 13, 1926 in Allen County, Ohio.¹ She was the daughter of William Henry Stettler and Nettie Oberly.¹
     Eileen married Harold Keith Slade Jr., son of Harold Keith Slade and Hazel Lenore Slusser, on April 2, 1947 in Ohio.¹ Eileen died on May 12, 2011 in Ohio at age 85.¹ She was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima, Allen County, Ohio.

     Ida Knapp was born circa 1857 in Cayuga County, New York.² She was the daughter of Charles Knapp and Emily [?].²
     Ida married William Edward Slade, son of John Edward Slade and Susan Ada Lyman.¹ Ida died on July 31, 1885. She was buried in Mount Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, Clinton County, Michigan.

     ¹ Mary Catherine "Kay" Hickman was born on September 13, 1921 in Moscow, Idaho.¹
     Mary married Todd Humbert Slade, son of Walter Denslow Slade and Kate Elizabeth Humbert.² Mary died on January 26, 2021 at age 99.¹ She was buried in United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, Orange County, New York.² Her obituary read as follows:

      Mary Catherine (Kay) Hickman Slade peacefully passed away on January 26, 2021. She was 99 and a longtime resident of Greenbrae. The daughter of Cuthbert and Teresa Hickman, she was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho, where her father was the Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho. Kay attended the University of Idaho majoring in home economics. Following a family tradition, she joined the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. When Kay graduated, WWII was beginning and she chose to enlist in the Army. She was sent to Vanderbilt University for graduate studies in dietetics, after which she was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia as a dietitian. At Fort Benning, she met and began dating a fellow serviceman, Major Todd H. Slade. After a while, he received orders to leave for assignment in Mexico City, and he asked Kay, "Are you coming with me?" Taken aback at first, she finally realized it was a marriage proposal and said "yes." That was the beginning of a very adventurous life of travel and living in many different countries, starting with four years in Mexico City in a diplomatic role for Todd as Army Attache` for the US Embassy. Kay was a natural; she was elegant, had a calm personality and she quickly picked up Spanish. She loved her diplomatic role entertaining the Mexican army educators and meeting foreign dignitaries. But not wanting to waste the dietetics training she received, she enlisted in the Army active Reserves and did her annual two weeks of service and training until she retired many years later, with the rank of Colonel. When the Mexico City assignment and a subsequent one in San Antonio, Texas were completed, Todd was assigned to Korea for a year, and Kay returned to Moscow to her sorority as a house mother for a year. The sorority girls loved her and couldn't get enough of her stories about living in Mexico City in a diplomat's role. It also gave Kay an opportunity to practice her knowledge of dietetics on the young women to help them stay healthy. After Korea, Todd retired and he and Kay traveled the world, eventually landing in Madrid, Spain where they spent seven years. Both studied at the University of Madrid, where Todd received a Ph.D. and Kay studied with the Facultad de Filosofia Y Letras. While there, they entertained many friends and acquaintances they met from their travels and the Army. Kay loved the life in Madrid! She would describe their evenings out, going from one tapas bar to another, and then finally settling down to a wonderful meal quite late in the evening. Eventually, they returned to the U.S., deciding to settle in Marin County. It was an area where several of their friends from the Army had retired, and the Presidio was close along with Letterman's Hospital. Kay and Todd both retired from active reserves as full Colonels in the Army. Once settled in their lovely home in Greenbrae, California, where they would live and entertain for the rest of their lives, Kay and Todd needed some gardening advice and were referred to the Marin Garden Center (now Marin Art and Garden Center). As Kay tells it, "We received such great advice and the people were so nice, we thought it would be fun to be involved in some way." Kay was active in the Center for more than 40 years, even serving as president of the board for several years. Kay and Todd were so proud of their work with the Center that anytime friends or family came to visit, they insisted on touring the garden to see the new plantings. If you came the week of the big annual plant sale, Kay and Todd put you to work, helping to pot plants for it and anything else they signed up to do. Kay also served on the board and secretary for the Moya Library - Ross Historical Society. She was an active member of the St. John's Episcopal Church and she was a member of P.E.O. chapter and D.A.R. Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Todd, who passed in 1993; her sister, Margaret (1979); and her stepdaughter, Kate Slade Murty (2009). Kay is survived by her stepdaughter, Barbara Redfield and her granddaughter, Karena Weil (Dan Weil). She is also survived by the children of Kate: Barbara Gonzalez-Mendez, Barbara Weston, Natalie Weston and Robert Todd Weston. She is also survived by the children of her deceased sister, Margaret Meyer: Stephen Meyer, Gary Meyer, Susan Meyer, Joan Meyer, and Trace Harris. The family would also like to acknowledge and thank Martin O'Neill and Laura Montejano, who were her good friends, and who made it possible for Kay to live in her home until her passing. There will be an online service for Kay conducted by St. John's Episcopal Church on February 20, 2021 at 1p.m. If interested in further information, please email: smeyer@downeybrand.com.

Published in Marin Independent Journal on Feb. 17, 2021.¹

     Elizabeth Slade was born on November 3, 1827 in Ontario County, New York.¹ She was the daughter of Nathan Slade and Mary Hoag.¹
     Elizabeth married James Hoag, son of Peter Hoag and Hannah Van Duzer.² Elizabeth died on December 28, 1912 in Orleans County, New York, at age 85.¹ She was buried in Sandy Creek Cemetery, Murray, Orleans County, New York.¹

     James Hoag was born on May 2, 1821 in Orleans County, New York.¹ He was the son of Peter Hoag and Hannah Van Duzer.¹
     James married Elizabeth Slade, daughter of Nathan Slade and Mary Hoag.¹ James died on September 21, 1902 in New York at age 81.¹ He was buried in Sandy Creek Cemetery, Murray, Orleans County, New York.¹

     Charles Knapp was born circa 1833 in Cayuga County, New York.¹
     Charles married Emily [?].¹

     Edward Slade was born circa 1785 in Massachusetts.^1,2
     Edward married Mary A. [?]¹

     William L. Slade was born circa 1812 in Massachusetts.¹
     William married Mary B. [?]¹