Person Page

     Walter G. Walker was born before 1791 in Maryland.¹
     Walter married Ariel Slade, daughter of Abraham Slade and Ann Mutchner.¹ Walter G. Walker was buried in Mount Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery, Freeland, Baltimore County, Maryland.² Walter died on April 23, 1874.²

     Everett M. Snyder was born on February 10, 1916 in Maryland.¹
     Everett married Anna Miriam Slade, daughter of James Elmer Slade and Nellie Ray Almony.¹ Everett died on May 28, 1996 at age 80.¹ He was buried in West Liberty UMC Cemetery, Whitehall, Baltimore County, Maryland.¹

     Gene Davis Slade was born on March 7, 1929 in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas.¹ He was the son of Rufus Vernon Slade and Ethel L. Funston.¹
     Gene married Billie Jo Haney.² Gene died on April 12, 2015 in Cedar Creek Lake, Texas, at age 86³ and was buried in Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.⁴ His obituary read as follows:

      Gene Davis Slade, 86, of Cedar Creek Lake and formerly of Duncanville, beloved father, Papaw, and servant of God, stepped peacefully into eternity on April 12, 2015.
Gene was born March 7, 1929, in Cash, Texas, to the late Rufus Vernon and Ethel (Funston) Slade. Raised on a farm, Gene was the youngest of nine children. Due to the loss from the depression, the Slade family eventually moved to Dallas, where Gene graduated from Adamson High School in Oak Cliff.
Gene met the love of his life, Billie Jo Haney, while Roller Skating at Fair Park. They settled in Duncanville, where Gene built the home in which they raised their three children.
A tool and die maker by trade, Gene worked in the engineering division of Frito Lay form 1950 to 1971. Needing to put three children through college, Gene became an entrepreneur and started his own business, S & S Tackle. Spending 40 years at Northside Baptist Church in Duncanville, Gene led all with whom he served to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, for whom he was a shining example. He served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, Training Union Director, and Choir member. In service to the community, Gene served as alderman for three years and became mayor of Woodland Hills at the age of 31. Gene and Billie Jo were the perfect parents, totally immersed in their children’s church and school activities while in Duncanville.
They retired to Cedar Creek Lake in 1991, where Gene continued to serve the Lord at First Baptist Church of Malakoff. Gene was an inventor, a musician, and an avid gardener, golfer, skier, hunter, marksman, archer, and fisherman. Even after turning 80 years old, Gene continued dancing with the Senior Citizen group, singing with the band, driving Meals-on-Wheels, and teaching Sunday school and Bible studies. Gene loved the Bible, gospel and country music, to laugh and tell jokes, and to entertain his family with his own unique vocabulary – now forever known as “Slade-isms”. But nothing made him happier than spending time with his five precious grandchildren.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Billie Jo Haney Slade. He is survived by his three children: two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Randy Smith, Deemie and David Naugle; one son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Gae Slade; and grandchildren, the lights of his life, Jared Smith and his wife, Monica, Blaine Smith and his fiancé, Amber Gann, Courtney Shwadlenak, and Lily and Ava Slade; and numerous other relatives and precious friends, including his special friend, Skipper McCall.⁴

     Billie Jo Haney was born on April 4, 1932 in Dallas, Texas.²
     Billie married Gene Davis Slade, son of Rufus Vernon Slade and Ethel L. Funston.¹ Billie died on September 22, 2006 at age 74² and was buried in Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.²

     Jeanne Swink was born on September 11, 1914 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio.¹
     Jeanne married John Calvin Slade, son of John Albert Slade and Sarah Elizabeth Field.¹ Jeanne died on December 2, 2000 at age 86.¹ She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.¹

     Teresa Dickson Backus was born on December 16, 1907 in Wyandotte County, Kansas.² She was the daughter of Alma Teresa Dickson and Jonathan Trumbull Backus.¹
     Teresa married John Calvin Slade, son of John Albert Slade and Sarah Elizabeth Field, on July 27, 1929 in Butler County, Ohio.¹ Teresa Dickson Backus and John Calvin Slade were divorced.³
     Teresa married second Charles Richard Duemer on April 5, 1936 in Hamilton County, Ohio.⁴ Teresa died on July 13, 1989 in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, at age 81.⁵

     Helen Amanda Duersch was born on November 8, 1910 in Butler County, Ohio.¹ She was the daughter of Edith Saloma Weislogel and Wilhelm Frederick Duersch.¹
     Helen married William Lawrence Slade, son of John Albert Slade and Sarah Elizabeth Field, in 1936.¹ William died in 1956 and Helen married Harold Carey Zerfass about 1963.¹ Helen died on September 14, 1995 at age 84¹ and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.¹

     Charles Richard Duemer was born on May 1, 1911 in Hamilton County, Ohio.¹
     Charles married Teresa Dickson Backus on April 5, 1936 in Ohio.¹ Charles died on June 24, 1971 in Ohio at age 60.¹

     Susan Slade was born on December 26, 1930 in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.² She was the daughter of John Calvin Slade and Teresa Dickson Backus.¹
     Susan married Gary L. Hammons.² Susan died on February 23, 2016 in Durango, Colorado, at age 85.² She was buried in Rose Hill Burial Park, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.² Her obituary read as follows:

      HAMMONS (Slade), Susan (DUEMER) Age 85, Susan Hammons died on Feb 23, 2016 in Durango Colorado, which she was a Long time resident since 1977. Born December 26, 1930 in Hamilton, Ohio she was the daughter of Teresa Backus and John C. Slade. She graduated from Hamilton high School, Class of '48. She went on to attend Miami University (Ohio) for a year, then married her high school sweetheart, Gary L. Hammons, who died in 2003. They had a wonderful and exciting life together, raising 4 children, while nurturing Gary's rise to VP at Kroger, and several other corporations thru the 60-70's, That journey for success brought them to Cincinnati Ohio, Rochester NY, Los Angeles CA. In 1977. They said goodbye to the city life, and found their own slice of heaven in the Rocky Mountains, Durango, Colorado. They lived on a beautiful 40 acre ranch overlooking the La Plata mountains for 26 years. Susan was an accomplished horseman, loved to ride her horses, and even did several cattle drives. She loved 'all creatures, great and small'. She was an avid reader, and student of history, politics and life. She is survived by four children: Steven (Lorrie) Hammons, Phoenix, AZ; Kathryn (John) Reese, Westmorland, CA; David (Carolyn) Hammons, Henderson, NV. Anne Spiker, Phoenix, AZ. One sister, Prudence Kyle, Hamilton, OH; She is survived by Seven grandchildren: Sarah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Eric, Jessica, Kirsten, and Ben. Ten great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. No services are being held in Durango. Memorial service will be at Ivey funeral home, Rose Hill Cemetery, Hamilton, Ohio. on March 16, 2016, 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the caregiver organization who gave so much love and comfort to Susan in her last weeks: Shining Star Caregivers. 162 Needles Creek Trail Durango, CO, 81031, 970-946-2932 shiningstatcaregivers@gmail.com
Published in Journal-News on Mar. 6, 2016.²