Obituary of E. Slaughter Richard

Richard Ervin Slaughter was born December 16, 1923 in Edgewood, Texas to Elbert Ray and Kathleen Valentine Slaughter. He passed away on March 24, 2010, in Yelm, WA. Richard graduated from North Dallas High School in 1942, and attended Principia College in Elsah, IL, until 1946. He met is wife, Betty Steele, while at Principia, and they were married in Tulsa, OK on November 29, 1947.A third generation lumberman, Richard went to work in California as a lumber wholesaler for Anderson-Hanson Lumber in 1946. At the invitation of his brother, Al, he and Betty moved from Los Angeles in early 1949 to Dallas, and joined his brother in starting Slaughter Lumber Sales. The company grew rapidly, and later became Slaughter Brothers, Inc., a well-known, highly respected, and successful distributor of forest products from Florida to the Rockies. When sold in 1985, the company included yards and facilities in Dallas, Waco, Mt. Pleasant, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Orlando, FL. He and his brother also had business interests in Kansas City and Wichita, KS, White City, OR, and Magnolia, AR. While he lived in Dallas, he was an active member of Third Church of Christ, Scientist, a director of Adventure Unlimited of Denver, CO, and an early and enthusiastic supporter of The Leaves, a Christian Science nursing facility in Richardson, and a member of Northwood Club. Family vacations were spent camping and fishing, passions of his. After moving to Snowmass, CO in 1975, Richard became actively involved in the community, first as a Christian Science practitioner; then as a supporter of the Snowmass Sun newspaper, which his wife co-founded; and, when Snowmass incorporated, as the first chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission; and a generous supporter, with his wife, Betty, of the Interfaith Chapel. He loved the skiing and hiking Snowmass afforded him. He moved to Yelm, WA in 1985, and raised farm animals and Arabian horses, and did some small scale farming for about 8 years. While in Yelm for the past 25 years, he developed many strong friendships. Some of these individuals were responsible for the remarkable primary care he received in his later years. Richard is survived by his ex-wife and best friend, Betty Slaughter of Denver, Co; his children David Slaughter and wife Debbie (Sandpoint, ID); Sally Slaughter Gerlt and husband Dennis (Pleasanton, CA); Betsy Slaughter Oliveira and husband José (Cedar Knolls, NJ); grandchildren, Denise Gerlt Eccles and husband Keith (Denver, CO); Christopher Gerlt (Pleasanton, CA); Jessica Gerlt (Fremont, CA); Steve Gerlt (Pleasanton, CA); Jeff Slaughter (Dallas); Colin Slaughter (Caldwell, ID); Lucas Oliveira and Delina Oliveira (Cedar Knolls, NJ); great-grandchildren Journey, Toby, and Brina Eccles (Denver, CO); and numerous nieces and nephews.