Joe T. Slusher

JOE TOM SLUSHER MICHIGAN CITY,IN
Joe T. Slusher, age 80, of Michigan City, passed away Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Life Care Center, Michigan City. Born April 22, 1931 to Sam and Lizzie (Petitt) Slusher of Rowan County, KY, he grew up there with five siblings, four sisters and one brother. In 1955, he joined the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1955 at which time he moved to Dayton, OH where he was hired at the Chrysler plant as a mechanic. Laid off three times during one year of employment there, a job as a crane operator was offered to him at Standard Forging of East Chicago, IN, which he accepted. Hired as a steel-checker, he worked there for 14 years, became a craneman and was a pipefitter when the plant closed in 1970. Following that, he went to work as a station operator for Buckeye Pipeline Co., also of East Chicago. Joe was employed there as a station operator for 22 plus years until he retired in 1993 and retired to the mountains in Yarnell, AZ. Joe had always been a great handyman and was appreciated for his work by many. The Navy trained him in refrigeration and air-conditioning and was self taught in areas such as heating, electrical, plumbing and construction. Always happy to help out and sporting a big smile, folks knew he was the one that could fix things that others gave up on. His health was deteriorating by the time of his retirement and it became necessary for his interests and efforts to change realms. He had always enjoyed decorating for the Christmas holidays and began fabricating and building his own designs from much of the "good junk" he collected through the years. He was proudest of his fully-operational 14 foot Ferris wheel which displayed over 15,000 lights and seated 22 handmade dolls. Awarded top honors in the town of Yarnell, there was even a full-page article with pictures in the Prescott Courier that year. Other interests included being an avid Pinochle player and a lifetime Cincinnati Reds and Cubs baseball fan. The Diamondbacks were added when he retired to Arizona. As a member of Community Presbyterian Church in Yarnell and appointed to the position of Deacon, Joe became a Sunday greeter and was promptly nicknamed the "Yarnell Hugger," a nickname he bore proudly and will always be remembered for. He was also proud to have made trips to Mexico with Pamela, his wife of 30 years, and fellow church members to participate in building an Amor House for a homeless family and installing electricity at an orphanage. Preceded in death by his parents: Sam and Lizzie; three sisters: Geneva Brittinghamm, Virginia Sheese, and Faye Fields. Joe and Pamela lost their 28 year old son, Jerry Slusher when he was killed on his job in 2003. Joe is survived by wife Pamela (aka Sage) of Michigan City, IN; sister, Mabel (Walter) Forman of Clearfield, KY; brother, Sam (Jill) Slusher of Jamestown, OH; two daughters: Pier (Tom) Smith and Jackie (George) Frank; son, Gregg Slusher; ex-wife, Juanita; and numerous grandchildren, all of NW Indiana. Joe's wish was to be cremated and a private family service will be held at a later date. Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Road, La Porte is caring for the arrangements. Please send condolences to the family at: www.LakeviewFHC.com