Thomas Clawson Slaughter III III

Bend, OR - Thomas Clawson Slaughter III died on June 29 of a heart attack in Bend, Oregon. Born August 24, 1945, in Baltimore, MD, he grew up in Reedville, Virginia, the son of Thomas C. Slaughter, Jr. and Mildred Ann Goeke. He graduated from Emory and Henry College with a bachelor's degree in political science.

He spent his youth on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay; he began with summer jobs in the menhaden fisheries (Zapata Haynie) and trapping in the winter. After college he worked for the park service in Wyoming, then moved to Bozeman, Montana with his first wife, Martha Davis, to transform a historic hotel from a brothel to boutique.

Unknown to everybody at the time, he spent his early 20's in Southeast Asia with the CIA navigating the waterways.

He returned to the US and joined the shrimp industry in Charleston, SC, which quickly turned into co-owning a shrimp boat in Bayou Le Batre, AL., where he fished from Texas to Key West, famously befriending Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefers - one of his favorite stories to tell.

He moved north after meeting his second wife Marguerite Staley Maxwell and started a family living on the Eastern Shore working for American Original as a highline clam boat captain, from Chincoteague, VA to Ocean City, MD to Cape May, NJ. They returned to Reedville and bought the family business, Huff and Puff Pet Foods. During this time, he focused on his family, the kids' education, and coaching sports.

He then moved further north to Massachusetts returning to the clam industry first as a boat captain, then as a boat owner, and finally culminating with his own shellfish processing company. It was at Fair Tide Shellfish where he met his third wife, Corinne Silveira, and became a second father to her kids, who he mentored and loved.

He was renowned as an authority in the clamming industry, helping with government regulations, a consultant for companies from the Mid-Atlantic to Gaspe Bay Canada, and has three clam boats named after him, refusing to allow the fourth.

He was an intelligent man, who's great trait was his ability to see the absolute goodness, joy, and talent in anyone no matter their circumstance, economic standing or education. He was a wonderful father, always knowing what the decent thing was to do. He enjoyed reading and loved to debate any issue from either side, constantly used as an encyclopedia for his knowledge.

He was the consummate storyteller

He spent his last five years in Bend, Oregon near the grandkids, residing at Mt Bachelor Assisted Living. His family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the dedicated caregivers, who provided wonderful care and emotional support for his final years.

He is survived by his son Thomas C. Slaughter, IV [Christine] and daughter Ann Staley Fitzsimons Slaughter Micken [Brian], granddaughter Eaven Virginia Micken and grandson Rowan Robert Micken; brother, William Byrne Slaughter [Mary Lynn}, two nephews Willam B. Slaughter Jr. [Lisa] and Nicholas Kevin Slaughter; sister, Ann Slaughter Lawrence [Wilbur], along with extended family from all sides who remained close to him throughout his life.

At his request, his ashes will be spread in Buzzards Bay (Massachusetts) and Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) with memorial celebrations to be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Tom to The Special Olympics Massachusetts - https://www.specialolympicsma.org/