Obituary of Thomas E. Slater

"Granby, Thomas E. “Pops” Slater, 76, formerly of Sherwood Dr. passed away June 9, 2007, while on vacation in Florida with his loving wife and family. Born in Oklahoma, January 9, 1931, he was the son of the late Milton and Bessie (Cox) Slater. He was a longtime resident of Granby, where in his earlier years, he was very active with the local Cub Scouts and the Granby Athletic Association. From 1952 to 1957, he proudly served in the U.S. Air Force. He later delivered milk to homes throughout the Holyoke area and operated the Green Pine Dairy in South Hadley. Tom retired from Pioneer Packaging in Chicopee. In his leisure, he enjoyed traveling to “Moose Country” in NH with his wife, where he loved to watch the moose and listen to the loons out on the lake. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, and especially enjoyed bass fishing with his friend Ervin in the Chicopee Bassin’ Association. Tom will be deeply missed by his wife of 49 years, Helen “Sue” (Goepfert) Slater, along with his children Michael and his fiancé Donna of Uniontown, PA, Mary Kay Pelton and her husband Billy of Westfield, John Slater and his wife Marilynn of Avon Park, FL, Wayne Slater and his wife Kim of Axton, VA, David Slater and his wife Darlene of Springfield and Judy McCullough and her husband Larry of Wilberton, OK, his 15 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and “Lilly”, their cat. He also leaves his siblings Patricia Chambers, Ramona Nicholes, and Jack Slater. Besides his parents and siblings, Tom was predeceased by a daughter Kathy Ann Borkowski in December of 2004. A Service of Remembrance will be Saturday, June 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St. (Rte. 116) followed by burial in West Cemetery, Granby. Visitation will be held Friday, June 15th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to a local hospice or charity of choice. "