Ricky Allan "Ric" SLAGLE

May 2, 1951 - April 29, 2025

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Ric Slagle, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle on April 29, 2025, in Spokane, WA.

Ric was born at Barksdale Airforce Base in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Milton and Shirley (Chopp) Slagle on May 2, 1951. Due to his father's military career, the family moved frequently. Ric lived in Louisiana, Oklahoma, England, Nebraska, France, and Germany, finally settling in Puyallup, WA, in 1966. Ric graduated from Puyallup High School in 1969 and Evergreen State College in 1973. His first daughter, Emily, was born in September 1974, and his second daughter, Sarah, was born in August of 1977.

Ric began his career as a counselor at Green Hill School for Boys in 1974, followed by 30 years with the Department of Corrections (DOC). He first worked as a Probation Parole Officer in downtown Tacoma and then relocated to Goldendale, WA, in 1978, where he served as a Probation Parole Officer, later retitled to Community Corrections Officer (CCO) until 1995. Ric was a one-man office, covering three counties. During this time, he was also involved in training new CCO's, in arrest, search, and seizure, as well as the lead for firearms familiarization requalification training of CCO's in Eastern Washington. Ric was named the Eastern Area CCO of the year in 1994. In 1995, he was promoted to Hearings Officer and moved to Wenatchee, WA. He spent the last nine years of his DOC career at Headquarters in Olympia, WA, as a Correctional Program Manager, retiring from DOC in 2004. In late 2005, he began a second career with the Nisqually Indian Tribe, where he managed their Probation and Truancy services for 14 years, until retiring again in June 2019.

Ric and his wife, Catherine, married in January 1997 and lived in Olympia, WA, for 28 years. During that time, they formed many lifelong friendships. They returned to Spokane, where Catherine grew up, in October 2023.

Ric loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and horseman. He never missed a buck hunt. He and Catherine enjoyed many horse trips to Riely Meadows on Mt. Adams, as well as yearly Memorial Day trips and weekend rides to various mountain locations in Eastern Washington, often with numerous dear friends. Ric and Catherine also enjoyed years of road trips and flights to various locations in the states, as well vacations to tropical locations including Hawaii, Mexico, and Belize, often with groups of their friends.

Ric was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Shirley Slagle; his nephew, Kevin Slagle; and his sister-in-law, Nancy Hanna. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Winkler-Slagle; his former wife, Karen Grimes, and their daughters, Emily and Sarah (Randy); his grandson, Ethan; his brothers, Eric and Tom; and his sister, Trish; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and great-nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the Nurses and Doctors at Deaconess Hospital ICU who showed such care for him during his 19 days there. We would also like to thank Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services, for taking Ric into their care after his passing.

There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 2:00pm-5:00pm, at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, in Spokane Valley.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

An online memorial page can be found at legacy.com.