Jack Russell Slayton

Jack was born on October 31, 1943, in Bell, California, to Mary Viola Johnson and Charles Henry “Hank” Slayton. He went to high school in San Diego, where he played football, and attended college at the University of Santa Barbara, where he was on the wrestling team and received a degree in Zoology in 1966.

Soon after he graduated, Jack joined the Medical Service Corps of the US Army. While at basic training on Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, he met Shirley at 'The Pit." He asked her to dance as she was about to leave with her friends. They were married on April 8, 1968, right before he left for his first of two tours in Vietnam. They had a daughter, Kimberly Dawn, and a son, Brice Alden. He was such a good father to them, with memories of camping, fishing, hiking, and skiing together, coaching Brice’s softball team, and going to Disney World. More recently, he took Kim and Shirl for a ride in a man-operated lightweight engineless glider, on a cruise to Alaska, where he lived as a kid, and another one around Hawaii. He was always up for an adventure, as when he took a job for the second time in Germany, where Kim graduated from high school. They also lived in San Francisco and El Paso.

While serving, Jack earned a Master of Business Administration and another Master’s degree in Health Administration. After 26 years of service in the Army, Jack retired as a Colonel. He was so humble about his service that we were continually finding out interesting things about him, including the medals and decorations he received. On his retirement from the Army, Jack worked for an assisted living facility in south Florida where his co-workers respected him, and the residents and their families dearly loved him. At holiday parties, he would get the residents out of their wheelchairs and dance with them, dress up in a costume for Halloween, or put on a Santa hat at Christmas.

Jack and Shirl moved to Austin in 2002 to be closer to Kim. He took a job with the state of Texas at the Texas Land Board. While there, he helped build and manage several Texas veteran cemeteries, benefiting thousands of Texas veterans and their families. Jack was also able to help Shirl take care of her mother, Ernestine. He would often take her to lunch and grocery shopping and ensure that she was cared for.

For years, Jack loved to play pickleball 1-2 times a week and played golf every week. Last year, he played in a tournament where he placed number one in his age group with his portable oxygen in tow. He also loved fishing and would go with his friend Gene, to the coast. On their last trip, they took Patrick, Travis’ son, with them.

Jack is survived by his wife, Shirl, his daughter, Kim Kenney, and his son-in-law Travis. Jack was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Hank, his son, Brice, and his sister Donna Jean. Jack was always interested in doing something in the medical field and was so proud when his daughter became a nurse. He often mentioned how proud he was of Kim and her accomplishments, and he adored Shirl with all his heart. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Slayton family.