Melvin Slater was 29-year resident at Marion Manor years ago
Staff writer
Melvin Slater was a "neat" guy. He almost always wore a necktie and a hat or cap. Slater was a resident of Marion Manor for 29 years (minus one day). He died July 13. He had been at the Manor since July 14, 1974, coming there from another long-term facility.
He was popular with staff at the Manor, and his sister, Marjorie Forsythe, of Bayfield, Colo., said the Manor was "a great place" and treated her brother "wonderfully."
He had worked in an ice house in earlier years. An accident was what led to his living in long-term care facilities, Forsythe said.
"He always asked if there were going to be pancakes for supper," said Joy Waldbauer, director of social services at the Manor.
Melvin John Slater, 94, was born March 2, 1909, in Whiting, the son of Matthew and Tora Paulsen Slater. Survivors include his sister, four nephews, and several cousins.
Another sister, Helen Ross, is deceased.
Graveside services were July 17 in Waverly Cemetery.
Melvin raised and lowered the U.S. flag outside the Manor at the appropriate times daily, and helped people get to and from their rooms there.
He also worked with kitchen workers at the Manor, carrying trays back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area.
He kept a diary, journal, or day log of each day, in tiny spiral notebooks.
He would give quarters or other coins to people "because he felt like it," Waldbauer said. He often left a quarter on the toilet tank after using the restroom, she said.
"He was a quiet and compliant person," she said. A lifelong bachelor, Melvin paced on foot or in a wheelchair at times. He wrote "checks" to people at times for fun. He was kind and gentle and well-liked by the Manor staff, Waldbauer said.
He had bowled as recently as 1983, records show. He never had a harsh word for anyone, and was seldom ill. He did not usually initiate conversations.
He was a Marion High School football fan, attending many home games. One year, his sister said, when Marion had done well and was entering the post-season state playoffs, players and their parents came into the stands to shake Melvin's hand and thank him for being such a good, loyal fan.
He enjoyed listening to the radio in his room at the Manor. He played the harmonica, and was helpful and compliant with the staff, according to some written records still held at the Manor.
Waldbauer plans to make a quilt of Melvin's dozens and dozens of ties, in his memory.
Forsythe said Melvin was very different from her and their sister, Helen, partly in that he was quite a bit older than they.
"We didn't know each other well, but he would often buy us identical dresses, when we were younger, in the differing right sizes, of course," Forsythe said.
Slater was a member of Marion Christian Church and attended services as long as he was able, walking to church on Sundays, church member Donna Fruechting said.
"He was interested in what the church was doing. When he could no longer attend, the elders of the church took communion to the Manor every Sunday, and he would take it, and a bulletin, and send back his offering for the church with them," she said.
