Note: This article has been  edited for the web. To see the Obit, purchase the Sept 4 issue.

Local Legend, Jack Slater,
Rides Into the Sunset

Jack Slater went to be with his Lord and Savior. His sunrise was on August 28, 1939, and sunset on August 26, 2020. He passed peacefully with his much-loved wife, Audrey Slater, at this side. Jack was two days short of 81 years old.

Audrey and Jack had a joyous life together in Christ and made their home for nearly 40 years, at the Oak Creek General
Store on Oak Creek Grade in rural Fremont County, Colorado.

Born in Upstate New York to Irish Catholic parents, Jack led an interesting life that included being a bar owner, a railroad engineer and ranch hand. He was married to Karen Rita Fugate from 1961 to 1976; they had three children.

Jack met his wife, Audrey (nee Walczak) Watson, in Buffalo, New York, in 1979, and together with her two sons, which he raised as his own, they moved west to Colorado in 1980.

In Colorado, Jack, worked on the Griffin Ranch (now subdivided.) He and Audrey opened The General Store which became a gathering place for locals. They then opened it as a restaurant with breakfast and lunch and later as an evening restaurant and live music venue. They also opened their barn to host local church services. In the 90s, the  Slaters opened a thrift market in Westcliffe on Second Street where everything from pots and pans to old stoves was fifty cents.

Until 2017, the Slaters continued to serve occasional lunches and Saturday morning breakfasts at the General Store featuring Audrey’s homemade baked goods and Jack’s sausage gravy served up with the best of company from a two-county area.

Jack is also credited with forming the first Oak Creek Grade Volunteer Fire Department in approximately 1988 and securing equipment still utilized today.

The Slaters also held bible studies in their home for years, and most recently attended The Cowboy Church at Crossroads in Penrose, Colorado, pastored by Randy Pfaff.

Jack is survived by his wife, Audrey Slater, sons, John Joseph Slater III. of New York and Patrick McGarity Slater of Florida , daughter Bonnie Kathleen Walker of Arkansas (spouse Jerry W. Walker),  daughter April Slater of Lancaster, New York, and stepsons Sean Watson of Florida (spouse Kim) and Christopher Watson (spouse Carrie) of Colorado. He has numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 12th, at 10 a.m., with Pastor Randy Pfaff officiating at Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church, 60260 Hwy. 69 N,  Westcliffe, CO 81252.

Press Release
The Wet Mountain Fire Protection District would like to welcome Matt Nolting, who was appointed Fire Chief at the August 12th Board Meeting.
Matt Nolting is a Colorado Native. He is joining our community with his wife Tawni and son Evan. Matt has been actively involved in fire and EMS services since May of 2001 when he joined his first volunteer fire department. He is a graduate of Columbia Southern
University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration. Matt said he is thrilled to join our community and honored to serve with our great fire department.

by Fred Hernandez

In a casual sit-down with the Editor of the Sentinel last week Mr. and Mrs. Kevin and Gayla Day immediately came across as a downright pleasing, friendly and honest couple. Both are long time natives of this general area of Southern Colorado with Gayla having been raised on a ranch on the Oak Creek Grade and Kevin having been raised in Cañon City, Florence and Carbondale, spending over thirty-five years in Custer County. Currently residing in Wetmore, Kevin has been with the Custer County Road and Bridge since January of 1996 and with the Wetmore Fire Department equally as long.
Before that his work history includes having done an eight year stint as Deputy Sheriff in Wetmore and a short spell in the Federal
Prison as Corrections Officer. A strong and devoted Christian,
he worships at the Wetmore Community Church and has served on their board since the mid 1990s. Continue reading Meet Kevin Day – Candidate for Commissioners District 2 →

Editor;
Due to the trying times facing our community over the last several months, the Custer County Chamber of Commerce has decided to dissolve the organization. In anticipation memberships would not be renewed due to financial issues, the Chamber would not be able to survive.
This decision was not arrived at lightly and much consideration was given to our current offerings, especially the Visitor’s Center. That being said, the Custer County Tourism Board has graciously agreed to help finance the Visitors Center, as we all feel that a Visitor’s Center is vital to our community.
In addition, the Custer County Tourism Board encourages local services and Chamber members to add their business information to the Business Directory, for free, on VisitCusterCounty.com. You can upload up to eight images and select up to five categories to showcase your business services. It is the responsibility of each business to add their listing and not the responsibility of the Chamber of Commerce or Custer County Tourism. It’s easy to do, [Directions ommitted] We hope you will take advantage of this free listing on the VisitCusterCounty.com website.
If you have a video that was created by Chamber, we will upload it to the Custer County YouTube Channel.
The transition will take place over the next several months, and we will keep you informed every step of the way!
We appreciate your support of the Chamber over the years, and wish for better days ahead for all of us!

Chamber of Commerce
Rene Smith – Administrator
Candace McDaniel, President
Braden Wilson, Vice President
Ron Beckner, Treasurer
Tracy Ballard, Member at Large
Elizabeth Maestas McCabe, Member at Large