Richard Harry Slater

Rev. Richard Harry Slater, 89, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 27, 2015, following a stroke suffered in May. He was born on July 17, 1925 in Coesse, Indiana to Harry and Estella Slater. Following his graduation from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the Naval Air Force in where he started training to be a pilot, but as WW II was waning, he was stationed in Puerto Rico. November 13, 1948, he married Hazel Goodrich, and they had 6 children. They lived in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and he test drove trucks for International Harvester and was a carpenter. He attended St. Paul Bible College, and entered the ministry in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (a missions minded denomination) in 1964 in Hanford, Iowa. He was also pastor of churches in Florissant, MO, Duluth, MN, Webster, WI, and Green Bay, WI. Following Hazel's death, he married Gwendolyn McCurdy of Ironton, MO. They had a special love, and would have celebrated their 25th anniversary August 4. Richard loved cars, airplanes (he obtained his pilot's license after military discharge), fishing, the North Woods of MN and WI, and telling stories. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a very generous heart, once literally giving away the coat on his back. His passion was to lead people to Jesus Christ and he shared the gospel with everyone he met. He is survived by his wife, Gwen, a brother, Edward (Joan) Slater of Grabill, IN, a sister, Norma (Ron, deceased) Routhier, and was preceded in death by his sister Sharon. He is also survived by 3 daughters, Barbara Pecoraro, St. Louis, MO; Vicki Brunk, Ironton, MO; Marcia (Paul) VanCamp, Duluth, MN, and a daughter-in-law, Janis Slater, Grafton, IA. He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Slater, and daughters Diana Kay and Kay Estella. He is also survived by 6 step children: Dale (Debbie) McCurdy, House Springs, MO; Mark (Linda) McCurdy, Tucson, AZ; Rick (Chris) McCurdy, Tulsa, OK; Grace (Mike) Parry, Fruitland, MO; Lynn McCurdy-Bastida, Spain; step-daughter-in-law Pam McCurdy of Sanford, Florida, and was preceded in death by his step-son, Bruce McCurdy. He had 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, and 7 step-great grandchildren. The memorial service will be held at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Desloge, Saturday, July 25 at 11:30 AM. Guests are invited to come at 10:30. There will be a meal following at the Covenant Bible Church, 5165 Highway D, in Farmington. View tribute and share your memories and condolences at www.czboyer.com.