Funeral services for O.A. “Buddy” Slater, Jr. will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA with Dr.’s Roy Cook and Ira Campbell, and Bro. Chris Hough officiating. Interment will follow at Central Cemetery in Robeline, LA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, February 19, 2016 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA.
O. A., or "Buddy" Slater as he was known by so many, was born in Robeline, Louisiana on July 6, 1929 to Jessie Lee and O. A. Slater Sr. Buddy lived in Robeline and graduated from Robeline High School in 1946. After graduation, Buddy and his friend "Little Doc" Jordan joined the Navy where he served as a medic on the USS Columbia until 1949. Upon returning home from the Navy, he enrolled in Northwestern State College of Louisiana where he pursued a. Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics.
On May 5, 1951, while attending school, Buddy married his sweetheart, Maxine Bryant of Robeline. After graduating from Northwestern in 1954, he taught Chemistry and Physics at Byrd High in Shreveport, Louisiana until 1959, while attending the University of Arkansas where he graduated in 1956 with his Master’s in Education. He taught Biology at Natchitoches High School from 1959-1971.
He attended the University of New Mexico of Albuquerque's School of Nuclear Sciences where he was awarded a Master’s of Science in the summer of 1964 graduating at the top of his class. He was offered a University Professorship in the state of Colorado, but turned it down in order to stay in his beloved hometown of Natchitoches to continue to raise his girls and be near family. He turned down several subsequent offers of employment from various companies due to his great love of teaching high school students. He was principal of Robeline High School from 1971-1972 before becoming director of Natchitoches High School from 1972-1981. He did a wonderful job of navigating through the very difficult waters of merging Natchitoches High School and Central High School during the years of a two campus system. He oversaw the combining of the two schools into what is now Natchitoches Central High School and the construction of the building in which it is now housed. This accomplishment was stellar and masterfully done, though very often and under acknowledged.
Over the years he was amazed at the dozens of student who became physicians and attributed their love of the sciences to him. Many of his students went on to become construction workers, lawyers, ranchers, veterinarians, engineers, homemakers and CEOs-they all remember Mr. Slater's Biology class. (Anyone remember the skeleton's name?!!!) The biology lesson on evolution was always clearly taught textbook style, followed by the scriptural account. Mr. Slater would always end his lecture on the topic with the final statement of "and now you decide". All students of Mr. Slater please know how much joy you all gave him, and thank you for being a part of some of the best years of his life. His desire was to instill a love of learning and character, mixed with a little fun and mischief.
Not only was he wise, intelligent, knowledgeable of the scriptures, he continued to thirst for growth and knowledge. He was strong in body and spirit, and rich in the things that mattered. He loved his family and friends, but most importantly he loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and served Him with an outgoing, joyful love and a servant's heart. He was a founding and very active member of Grace New Testament Baptist Church where he served as song leader and taught on numerous occasions. This church and body of believers were very dear to him, bringing him much joy and delight.
After retirement, he spent the majority of his time with the family he loved so much. He loved traveling! He enjoyed the Rocky Mountains, but his favorite place to travel to was Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons!!! He loved his two girls and his grandchildren, and enjoyed watching them grow and being involved in their lives. He also enjoyed his two great granddaughters, who captured his heart and brought a special joy to his life. He always said the greatest joy and accomplishments in his life were his children, grandchildren and great grands!!! They are the legacy he left to carry on his memory.
He is survived by his loving wife, Maxine Bryant Slater of Natchitoches, LA; his daughters, Deborah Slater Hardy and her fiance, Roger Chapman of Natchitoches, LA and Donna Slater Horn and her husband Charles Andrew Horn of Bossier City, LA; his grandchildren, Christopher Michael Hardy and his wife Raylie and Andrea Paige Horn; his great grandchildren, McKenna Paige Hardy and Sibley Katheryn Hardy; and his sister, Jackie Prather of Lafayette, LA.
He was preceded in death by parents, O.A. Slater, Sr. and Jessie Lee Heard; and his grandson, Brian Timothy Hardy.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Axsom, Merlin Squyres, Lynn Estes Jr., Sam Pullig, Chris Meyer, and Christopher Hardy.
Honorary Pallbearers include Grady Cook, Ralph Fell, Tom Guess, Don Brown, Donald Mayeaux, and Ronald Mayeaux.
In memorium Pallbearer Lynn Estes Sr.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Baptist Children's Home, St Jude's, or SAGA Ministries.
Great write-up for Mr. Slater, exept for one minor detail that caught my eye. Since he was in the Navy, he was a CORPSMAN, not a MEDIC, which is what they are called in the Army!
Funeral services for O.A. “Buddy” Slater, Jr. will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA with Dr.’s Roy Cook and Ira Campbell, and Bro. Chris Hough officiating. Interment will follow at Central Cemetery in Robeline, LA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, February 19, 2016 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA.
Sam Stacy
Great write-up for Mr. Slater, exept for one minor detail that caught my eye. Since he was in the Navy, he was a CORPSMAN, not a MEDIC, which is what they are called in the Army!