JUNE 8, 1937 – FEBRUARY 20, 2024
The one and only Shirley Ann Slater has made her final exit. She passed away peacefully at her Severance, Colorado home on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Shirley made her entrance on June 8, 1937 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was the only child of Emma (Ferguson) and Floyd Rice. Growing up, Shirley loved the time she spent living at her Aunt Carrie’s farm and she loved all animals. She graduated from Campbell High School in 1955. After raising her family, she decided to pursue her passion and completed a course in Modeling in 1991. She worked as a Business Tax Collector for the State of California Franchise Tax Board, collecting more than $1,000,000 during her tenure.
On November 26, 1954, Shirley married Donald Edwin Slater. Together they welcomed three wonderful children, Alan, Randal, and Kimberly. Shirley and Don resided in Cameron Park, California for over 40 years until the time of Don’s passing in March of 2020. Shirley relocated to Colorado in September of the same year to be closer to family.
Shirley was strong-willed and independent. She was not shy and often spoke her mind. Shirley loved music and shopping and had a deep appreciation for ceramics and porcelain dolls. She loved the sunshine and flowers, but was not outdoorsy. She was a California girl through and through and in her younger years could often be found sitting by the pool soaking up the sun. Shirley was beautiful and cared about the way she presented herself to the world. She could always be found with a flower in her hair and her sweet smell of perfume. Shirley was larger than life with a personality that was grand and dramatic. She was talented musically and loved to sing, and play the piano or the guitar. She enjoyed performing live for an audience and often had small concerts in her home with family and friends. She also loved to act in plays with her friends in the Lions Club. She was a performer at heart and the world was truly her stage.
More than anything else, Shirley loved her family. She cultivated a welcoming environment of love and acceptance for her children and grandchildren. Shirley didn’t have in-laws. When her children and grandchildren found someone that they loved, Shirley accepted them as family and they knew her only as ‘Mama’ and ‘Nana’. Shirley was blessed with 86 happy and healthy years. When the time came to say goodbye, she was surrounded by love, serenaded by song, and kissed with a gentle spray of her favorite perfume so that she could greet the afterlife smelling as sweetly as she did every day of this life. Words alone cannot appropriately express how much her family will miss her.
Shirley’s legacy of love, laughter, and family will live on in the hearts and memories of all those fortunate enough to have known her. She leaves behind her children and their spouses, Randal & Rose Slater, and Kimberly & Victor Valdivia; her grandchildren and their spouses, Victor & Grace Valdivia, Ruben & Jennifer Valdivia, Shauna Slater, and David & Stephanie Slater; as well as many, many great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Shirley will also be missed by her best friend and canine companion, Bobo, who stayed by her side until her final days. Shirley is greeted in the hereafter by her beloved husband of more than 65 years, Don, her son Alan, and her parents, Emma & Floyd.
A celebration of Shirley’s incredible life will be held later this year. Details will be available once plans are finalized. Papa Don will be honored alongside her, as his passing occurred in the early days of Covid and his family was not able to hold his memorial at that time. Shirley did love flowers, but she also loved and cared for others. To honor her memory, charitable donations are encouraged in her name to the American Cancer Society, the Animal Friends Alliance, or the Lions Club. Treasured memories of Shirley and words of condolence for her family are welcome at www.resthavencolorado.com.
