Eugene Slayton

SIKESTON, Mo. — Wayne Eugene "Skeeter" Slayton, 84, of Sikeston died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at Clearview Nursing Center, surrounded by family.

He was born March 30, 1924, in Senath, Mo., son of Shelby Turner and Minnie Elizabeth Taylor Slayton. He and Maggie Kingfisher Leslie were married March 29, 1978. She died Nov. 8, 2006.

Slayton had been a maintenance foreman at Kansas City Medical University before retiring. He was a member of New Beginnings Fellowship Church.

Survivors include four sons, John Slayton of Canalou, Mo., Darrell Slayton of North Little Rock, Ark., Barry Slayton of Columbia, Mo., Michael Bennett of East Prairie, Mo.; four daughters, Sharon Spencer and Helen Beardsley of Sikeston, Diana Tolliver of North Little Rock, Teresa "Julie" Taylor of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Marion Slayton of McEwen, Tenn.; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, two sisters and a great- grandson.

The funeral was held Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home. Ron Beardsley II, Tom Foster and Josh Beardsley officiated. Burial was in Matthews Cemetery at Matthews, Mo.