Earl Carey Slay Sr.

Earl Carey 'Buddy' Slay, Sr. 89 passed away on October 21, 2015. He was born May 30, 1926 in Jasper, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1943 - LST 69 (Landing Ship Tanker) Seaman recruit -Baker Foreign service in the Phillipine Sea during World War II. Buddy worked for approximately 10 Years with Southern Railroad in Jacksonville, Florida until moving back home to Sheffield, Alabama. From 1959 - 1994 - Buddy worked at the Sheffield, Alabama Fire Department, Mutual Savings Life Insurance, York Funeral Home, Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Athens, Alabama, and as a salesman for Certanium Alloys welding products. Buddy also enjoyed a short stint riding as an auxiliary with the Alabama State Troopers. Buddy retired with his wife of over 56 years, Helen Vivian Jolly Slay of Westpoint, Mississippi and they moved to a retirement community in Zephyrhills, Florida until Helens death in October 2003. Buddy was a life-long Alabama Crimson Tide fan and for many years belonged to the Tide Pride organization attending home games and traveling to away games in his and Helens motor home. Buddy then moved back to Hoover, Al. to live near two of his three sons at Rocky Ridge Retirement Home and moved two more times until retiring to the Colonel Robert L. Howard -Alabama State Veterans Home located in Pell City, Alabama where he went to meet his Lord on October 21st, 2015 at approximately 7:00 am. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Helen Vivian Jolly Slay, mother Drusilla Denton Slay, father John Wesley Slay and all siblings, four sisters and four brothers. He was a member of Southern Baptist, member of York Terrace Baptist Church among others. He was a member of Zamora Temple Shriners - 32nd degree Master Mason and was a recipient of many sales awards over his career. He is survived by Earl Carey Slay, Jr. - son - Dothan, Al., John Leland Slay -son - Hoover, Al., Mark Leonard Slay -son - Alabaster, Al.; Grandchildren: Cara Slay Coleman - Headland, Al., Jay Kabin Slay - Fort Mill, S.C., James Patton Slay - Statesboro, Ga., John Philip Slay - Columbia, S.C., Sarah Elise Slay - Hoover, Al.’ Mark Christian Slay - Alabaster, Al. and Marley Elizabeth Slay - Alabaster, Al.; Great Grandchildren: Daniel Westmoreland, Tristin Shughart, Canaan Coleman, Cooper Coleman, Carley Coleman, Casey Coleman and Spencer Slay