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Rosemary Slater
ROSEMARY SLATER
Olin
Rosemary Mae Slater died April 3, 2015, at the age of 88 years while living at the Solon Care Center, where she had many friends. Her funeral service will be Wednesday, April 8, at Olin Community Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lahey Funeral Home in Olin. Burial will be at Olin Cemetery.
Born April 10, 1926, at home in Altamont, Ill. (Effingham County, Blue Mound Township), her parents were Thomas Leroy McDonald and Viola Matilda (McDonald) Twiss. Both are deceased.
Rosemary has seven siblings: Mildred Campbell (deceased), Walter McDonald (deceased), Charles McDonald (deceased), Emma Jane Nelson (deceased), Lou Ann Putts and Joe McDonald. Rosemary is also survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Grafft.
Rosemary graduated from Olin High School in 1944.
Rosemary married Jay Grant Slater on July 8, 1945, at the Olin Methodist Church. They made their home on a farm in Jones County.
Rosemary and Jay had four children: Nancy (Michael, deceased) Petersen, Barbara (Dennis, deceased) Doherty, Scott (Barbara) Slater and John (Pat) Slater. They have eight grandchildren: Chris Doherty, Katherine (Jason) Sieren, Callie (Jeff) Slater-Tangemen, Carrie (Ron) Thole, Nick (Joslyn) Slater, Jill (Adam) Miller, Jason (Kathy) Slater and Jennifer (Mike) Zoller. They have 15 great-grandchildren: Carmen, Greta, Charlotte, Eliza, Jack, Justin, Maggie, Nellie, Grant, Adalyn, Alan, Jay, Madison, Ethan and Audrey. Rosemary enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rosemary and Jay farmed first with Jay's parents and later on their own. They raised Holstein dairy cows and did crop farming. Rosemary was very active in the farming operation, helping with the bookwork and fieldwork. For most of her life she had a large garden and took care of all the yard work. Rosemary was a skilled seamstress, making clothing and quilts for her family. Rosemary was active in the Olin Methodist Church. She was superintendent of the Sunday school, president of the Ladies Aid Society and served on the church board.
Rosemary will be greatly missed by her family.
Memorials may be directed to Friends of Olin Emergency Services.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.
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