Edwin Slayter

Wendell Edwin Slayter

Wendell “Edwin” Slayter, 92, of Kilgore passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022, at 3:05 pm in Longview. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore with Reverend David Hampton officiating. Visitation will be prior to the funeral from 1:00 – 2:00 pm at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Rusk County Memorial Gardens.

Edwin was born on May 24, 1930, in Luling, Texas to William M. Slayter and Thelma Bennett Slayter. Edwin was the middle of three children and grew up in the oilfields of East Texas. He attended several different schools growing up and cherished the friendships he made at Leverette’s Chapel in Laird Hill. Edwin graduated in 1947 from Leverette’s Chapel High School. He received his associate degree from Kilgore College and then attended Baylor University. In December 1950, Edwin graduated from Baylor with a BBA degree in accounting.

After graduation from Baylor, Edwin was offered a job by one of the Big 8 accounting firms but chose to work for a local Certified Public Accounting firm in Houston. After meeting the work requirement for CPA licensing, Edwin accepted a job as controller for a relatively new company, Kilgore Ceramics Corporation. Edwin also taught accounting during night classes at Kilgore College for several years. Edwin spent a career of 40 years working for Kilgore Ceramics through the sale in 1982 to Armitage Shanks of England and when Kilgore Plumbing Products was sold to Mansfield Plumbing of Ohio. Edwin retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kilgore Plumbing Products. After retirement, Edwin opened his own CPA practice in 1993 with his wife, Billie, helping him in the office. Even after retiring from private practice, Edwin was still assisting friends with tax returns and questions.

Edwin met the love of his life, Billie Blevins, when she was working at Shell Oil Company in Kilgore. Edwin and Billie were married on July 17, 1953, at Laird Hill Baptist Church. They had two children, a daughter, Candy, and a son, Craig. In his younger years, Edwin enjoyed fishing trips with his friends. Edwin was an avid hunter and trapper, and his family enjoyed many weekends and holidays at the family land in Jefferson. Many fun times were spent on family vacations and at the lake house on Lake Cherokee. Billie passed away just shy of their 40th wedding anniversary.

In 1995, Edwin and Janis LeBlanc were married, and he gained two daughters, Karen and Shelley. Edwin and Janis were married for over 23 years and together had four children and twelve grandchildren. Edwin was called PawPaw or PaPa Edwin by his grandchildren. He was so proud of his grandchildren and loved them immensely.

Edwin was a member of First Baptist Church for over 60 years where he also served as a deacon for nearly 40 years and had served as chairman of the Finance Committee. His professional affiliations included the Texas Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, and East Texas Chapter of CPAs. He was a former board member of the Texas Society of CPAs and past president of the East Texas Chapter of CPAs. He had been a member of Kilgore Lions Club.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, both of his wives, Billie Slayter and Janis Slayter, his brother W. W Slayter, and his sister, Genevieve Libby.

He is survived by his children, Candy Waller (Gordon) of Plano, Craig Slayter (Kim) of Kilgore, Karen Norton (Philip) of Flint, and Shelley Carrington (Joe) of White Oak; grandchildren, Ethan Waller, Noah Waller, Seth Waller, Colton Slayter (Aleah), Coby Slayter, Katie Slayter, Kallie Slayter, Brittany Kreft (Casey), William Norton (Leigha), Aaron Norton, Travis Carrington (Brian), and Brent Carrington (Andrea); great-grandchildren, Charlie Slayter, Teagan Slayter, Drite Kreft, and Bodin Kreft.

Honorary pallbearers are Brent Carrington, Travis Carrington, Aaron Norton, and William Norton.

Pallbearers are Edwin’s grandsons: Coby Slayter, Colton Slayter, Ethan Waller, Noah Waller, and Seth Waller.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church, 501 E. North Street, Kilgore, TX 75662.