DOROTHY EVELYN "PATT" SLAUGHTER

SLAUGHTER, DOROTHY EVELYN "PATT", 96

Live Oak - Dorothy Evelyn (Patt) Slaughter, 96, passed away on February 16, 2013. She was predeceased by her parents Claude Edward Patterson and Ella Tindal Patterson; her brother, Clyde Patterson; a grandson, Patrick Randall Slaughter; and her husband, Wm Randall Slaughter. She is survived by two sons, Judge William R. (Bill) Slaughter II and Wife, Tina, and Edward H. Slaughter, and Wife Bobbie, three grandchildren Kristen (Dave) Pickens, Randy (Mandy) Slaughter, and Katy (Kevin) Jurecko, and six great-grandchildren: Caroline, Lexi, Sydney and Dave Jurecko, and William and Emery Slaughter.

Patt was born in Geneva, Florida on August 5, 1916. At the age of two, she and her brother Clyde moved with their parents to Oak Hill, Florida, and when she was seven, the family moved to Daytona, Florida.

Patt started violin lessons at the age of five. For the next 91 years, she played violin with various ensembles, groups, bands, orchestras, and symphony orchestras. She earned a BA in music and later, an MA in music from Florida State College for Women. While in college she played clarinet in the band, sang in the glee club, and was served as the concert master of the college symphony orchestra.

After graduating college at the age of 20, Patt moved to Madison, Florida, where she taught English and served as the bandmaster and director of the glee club at Madison County High School.

In 1938, Patt married Wm Randall Slaughter and moved to Live Oak, where her husband had started his law practice. Shortly after she arrived in Live Oak, Patt was employed at Suwannee High School where she taught music and English.

While rearing her children, Patt was active in PTA, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Little League. She served as PTA president on several occasions and was a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years.

Patt was very active in the First Baptist Church of Live Oak for almost 70 years. She served as a Sunday School teacher, member and director of the church choir, organizer and member of the church orchestra, director of the junior choir, member of the church building committee, and member and chairman of numerous other church committees.

Patt was a former member of the Live Oak Garden Club and the Eastern Star. She was a founding member of the Suwannee County Historical Commission and she served as Committee Chairman in forming the Suwannee County Historical Museum. She was an organizer and charter member of the Live Oak Artists Guild, and she was a past president of the Live Oak Woman's Club.

Patt found time to assist her husband in his law and political career. Wm. Randall Slaughter served one term in the Florida Legislature, 14 years as county attorney for Suwannee County, and 22 years as State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida.

During her years in Suwannee County, she shared her artistic and musical knowledge and talents with the community. She worked hard to insure that all phases of the arts were within reach of everyone in the community. She taught piano and violin, organized and directed the award winning Live Oak Woman's Club Chorus, and she was instrumental in organizing the Live Oak Community Orchestra.

Patt was an accomplished and award-winning artist and painter. In addition, she organized the Live Oak Woman's Club Community Arts Festival, and served as the festival coordinator for 30 years. During that time, the festival grew to a week-long presentation of arts, photography, creative writing, crafts, music and dance involving more that 2000 members of the community. The festival provided thousands of talented students and adults in our community with the opportunity to display their talents. Under her direction and guidance, the festival was recognized as the best, and longest-running art festival in north central Florida.

None of this would have been possible without Patt's leadership, vision, persistence and hard work, and the thousands of telephone call, letters and personal visits she made to enlist the support and participation of her community. She was a genteel southern lady, and almost everyone found it impossible to say "no" whenever Patt called.

In recognition of her many years of service to her community, Patt was presented with numerous awards, to include the Rotary Service Above Self Award and the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award.

Visitation will take place at Daniels Funeral Home in Live Oak on Friday, February 22 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Funeral services will be conducted at the First Baptist Church of Live Oak at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center, 6037 W. US Highway 90, Lake City, FL 32055. Daniels Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.