Ken Slade

Ken Slade, age 77, passed away on Oct 11, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels.

He was born on August 11, 1947, in McNary, AZ, to James Burdwell Slade and Freda Wiltbank Slade. He graduated from Kayenta High School in Kayenta, Arizona, in 1965. He married Susan Marjorie Gumm on Oct 18, 1968.

The funeral service and interment for Ken will begin at 1:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Fort Bayard National Cemetery in Santa Clara, NM.

Ken spent most of his childhood in Eagar, AZ. He was the youngest of five children. As a child he helped the family care for their property and animals. A favorite memory was turning the community water into the irrigation ditches. He grew up exploring the surrounding hills, and, as a teenager, tended cattle in the White Mountains. At the age of 18 he joined the Navy and was stationed at Balboa Hospital in San Diego, CA where he became a corpsman and operating room technician. While in San Diego, he met his wife and life-partner Susan Gumm. In 1969 he was a medical technician on a ship off Viet Nam that repaired river boats. This ship, the USS Tutuila, was a steamship that was the oldest in the Navy and quite an experience. In 1971 he returned home to Monticello, UT where he lived near his brother Joe briefly, then Vista and Escondido in California. He and Susan spent 35 years in Escondido where he was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator. After retiring, he found his forever home in North Arenas Valley, NM where he and Susan built their dream home. Here he found his calling taking care of his land and assisting neighbors in caring for theirs. He was a core member of his community, and the legacy of the help he provided his neighbors lives on.

Ken spent the past 14 years living in North Arenas Valley, NM. His joys were reading, music, checking the weather, nicknaming every critter in the yard, and operating his tractor and heavy equipment. He also loved to be at his welding table. Sharing in this life of simple joys was always his partner Susan and his dogs, Dallas and Remmie. Many were the times friends gathered at his house for a refreshment and laughter.

He was preceded in death by two infant siblings, his parents, two sisters, and a brother. He is survived by his brother Joe (SueAnn) Slade of Monticello, UT and wife, Susan Slade of North Arenas Valley, NM, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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