Tracy Lawrence Slater

Tracy Lawrence Slater, 73, of Creston, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at Wooster Community Hospital after a lengthy illness that he battled with strength and courage.

Tracy was born on Aug. 12, 1950 in Millersburg to Walter Lawrence and Kathleen “Kate” (Murray) Slater and was a 1968 graduate of Norwayne High School.   On Nov. 20, 1971 he married Marilyn Faye Garrison and they were happily married for over 52 years.  Tracy served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from March 19, 1970 – Dec. 18, 1973 having served on the U.S. Ranger.  He retired from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Dept. in 2010 after 21 years of service and had made his home in Creston all of his life.  He served on the Creston Fire Dept. for 25 years and was an EMT for the Creston Rescue Squad.  He served on the Creston Village Council and was a member of Creston American Legion Post 497 and the Creston Historical Society.  Active in the Community he was past president of the Norwayne Athletic Booster and had worked at the Annual Fish Fry and Ox Roast.  In 1990 was honored as a Creston Citizen of the Year.  Tracy loved to golf, enjoyed boating and playing the piano but his greatest enjoyment was time spent with his grandchildren and with family.

Surviving is his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Jennifer and Brian Jefferies and Jessica Lynn and Andrews Weltlich; grandchildren, Emerson and Elliot Jefferies and Cory and Claire Weltlich; his father, Walter Slater; sister, Julia and Dave Crawford; brother, Michael and Elizabeth Slater and a nephew, Brian and Amy Slater.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Kate Slater in 2022.

Services will be Friday, Jan. 19th at 12:00 noon at Murray Funeral Home in Creston with interment at Creston Maple Mound Cemetery.  Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Friday.  Memorial contributions may be made to Canaan Township Fire and Rescue, PO Box 2223, Creston, OH 44217.