Karen Ann “Kay” Slate

Kay Slate passed peacefully on November 30, 2021 in Pampa, Texas.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, December 3, 2021 at the First Baptist Church of Pampa with Rev. Byron Williamson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael- Whatley Funeral Directors. Kay’s service will be livestreamed thru the funeral home’s website.

Karen Ann Slate “Kay” was born to Bonnie Belle and Homer Lee Miller on November 17, 1934 in Fairy, Texas, which happened to be on the first birthday of her beloved brother Gaylord. She was a 1953 graduate of Coahoma High School where she played basketball and developed her life-long love for learning. She married Freddie Slate on July 25, 1953 in Coahoma, Texas, and they had two daughters Becky and Julie. Once her daughters were both in grade school, she herself went back to school studying at Texas Tech University, Frank Phillips College and then received her bachelor’s degree from West Texas State University. After graduation, she taught second grade at Horace Mann Elementary School in Pampa, Texas and served as president of Pampa Classroom Teachers Association. Her family moved to Tuscola, Illinois for Freddie’s job in 1973, and while in Illinois, she got her master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University. In 1975 she returned to Pampa and to her second-grade classroom at Horace Mann.

They moved to Amarillo in 1981 where she taught second grade at Sleepy Hollow Elementary. In addition to her devotion to her family, furthering her education and teaching, she also was devoted to her church family and to missions. Kay loved Jesus Christ and thrived at studying the Bible and sharing God’s love with others. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Pampa and First Baptist Amarillo, taught both children and adult Sunday School classes, helped to start Monterey Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, prepared meals for Baptist youth camps and college students at West Texas A&M and Amarillo College.

After she retired from teaching in 1991, Kay and Freddie enjoyed traveling with their motorhome club, fishing in Colorado and south Texas, square dancing, and they adventured to the Holy Land and Africa. Kay adored her family and maintained close relationships with her family members both near and far.

Kay was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Twentieth Century Study Club, her coffee group, and was a card and board game enthusiast. She had a contagious laugh, was a wonderful storyteller, and her rich life experiences gave her plenty of stories to share. Her family and friends will forever remember and miss her.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Freddie Slate, her brother, Gaylord Miller; a son-in-law, Jay Holmes; and by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by her daughters, Becky Holmes of Spring Hill, TN and Julie Barbee (Roger) of Pampa; Grandchildren, Lynsey Smith (Jared) of Pampa, Cole Barbee of Pampa, Donna Barbee of Lubbock, Bonnie Bruner (Derek) of Thompson’s Station, TN, Katie Morin (Chris) of Palmdale, CA; Great Grandchildren, Kaylyn, Kendra and Kelton Smith; Faith and Grace Barbee; Lizibelle and Alfie Bruner; Oliver and Emery Morin.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Pampa 203 N. West Street, Pampa, TX 79065.