Larry “John” Slater, 85, of rural Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 17, 2026. He was born March 6, 1941, in Alva, Oklahoma, to James D. and Daisy Z. (Stapp) Slater.

John grew up in northwest Oklahoma and attended school at Cheyenne Valley, graduating in 1959. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and later earned his master’s degree from Central State College in Oklahoma City.

On October 22, 1964, John married Lorna L’Deana DeVilbiss, they shared more than 61 years of marriage together. They began their life together in Cashion, Oklahoma, where John taught school and coached. Although their time in Cashion was short, they made many lifelong friends.

From Cashion, John and Lorna moved back to Waynoka, where John served as high school principal. During those years, some of John’s fondest memories came from chaperoning the school’s Ag trips with the FFA instructor. Those trips provided plenty of adventures, stories, and memories that he cherished and continued to share for years to come.

In 1974, John and Lorna made a big move with their family to southeast Kansas, settling on a farm near Chetopa. Southeast Kansas became home for the next 30 years, and it was there they raised their family and built a lifetime of friendships and memories. While in the Chetopa area John taught Middle-School Math and Coached Junior High Basketball at Oswego. He ended his teaching career in Chetopa teaching High School and College Math and coaching a few years of girls basketball. Whether in the classroom, on the basketball court, or later around a livestock show ring, John embraced what it meant to be a great teacher. He understood the importance of connecting with young people. He was strict, he challenged them, and they always knew he cared.

John and his brothers were avid quail hunters. Thanksgiving dinner was often followed by a bird hunt in the sandhills around Waynoka. John and his brother Lewis trained bird dogs and were always ready for another hunt, as much to watch the dogs work as to bring home a few quail. Bird hunting, good dogs, and time spent outdoors with family remained some of John’s favorite things throughout his life.

John and his family also raised show lambs for many years. What started with livestock grew into lifelong friendships with 4-H and FFA kids and families who became much more than customers or fellow exhibitors. The annual show project sale each April became something of a family reunion, with kids staying over, games around the dinner table, plenty of stories, and usually a lot of laughter.

Livestock shows throughout the year were another opportunity for John to visit with friends and pass along what he knew to the next generation. If John was sitting in the stands, there was a pretty good chance a friendly judging contest was underway. He enjoyed studying the livestock, comparing placings, and seeing whether the official judge agreed with him.

John is survived by his daughter, Diane (Mark) Brillhart of Fort Scott, Kansas; son, Daren (Tiffany) Slater of Dacoma, Oklahoma; grandsons Clay Brillhart of Fort Scott, Kaden Slater of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Kolby (Kaytin) Slater of American Fork, Utah; and great-grandson Emmett Slater.

He is also survived by four step-granddaughters and their families: Jenny Brillhart (Joseph and Peyton) of Santa Rosa, Florida; Megan Brillhart (Vander and Jagger) of Fort Scott; Brianne Brillhart (Cooper) and Cameron Brillhart (Riley, Trevor, and Moe), all of Nevada, Missouri.

John is further survived by his brother, Lewis (Shirley) Slater of Independence, Kansas, as well as numerous extended family members and many friends he made throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorna; his parents, James D. and Daisy Z. Slater; four sisters, Clara Miller, Louise Pearson, Maxine Tindle, and Irene Astley; and two brothers, Jimmy Earl and Gary Slater.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, August 29th at the Cheney Witt Chapel in Ft. Scott. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday, August 28th at the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the FSCC Livestock Judging Team Boosters or the Northwest Technology Center Foundation – Slater Family Scholarship. Contributions may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.