Edward Earl Slawson

Edward Earl Slawson passed away on August 28, 2023, at his home in Tonganoxie, Kansas at the age of 84. Ed was born

May 4, 1939, in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1946 the Slawson family moved to rural Tonganoxie, where Ed attended Mound Country School, and, later, Tonganoxie Elementary School and Tonganoxie High School.

In high school Ed played tackle and was co-captain of the dominant “T­56” football team, the first team to play on Beatty Field. He was also a Thespian and president of his senior class. He graduated from THS in 1957. When he was a junior in high school, Ed began working for Shilling Electric where he began learning the plumbing and electric trades. He joined the navy reserves at age 17 and was called to active duty in 1957. He served in the Pacific on the USS Lexington until he was discharged in 1959.

In 1958, Ed married his high ­school sweetheart, Carol Wiley. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Ed and Carol resided in Tonganoxie, Kansas, where they owned and operated Slawson Plumbing and Electric for 30 years. He was a strong, hard worker who appreciated his customers and treated them well. He would leave his warm bed on cold, winter nights to help families whose furnaces had stopped, and he wouldn’t turn on his own air conditioner in the summer until his customers’ homes were cooled.

Ed was active in the community of Tonganoxie. He was a 50­ year member and past master of Henri Lodge #190. He served on the Tonganoxie Volunteer Fire Department, the Tonganoxie Park Board, which oversaw the operation of the

swimming pool, and the Tonganoxie Cemetery Association, where he held offices of secretary and president. He volunteered many hours of work with the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, helping in the restoration of the museum buildings and the City of Tonganoxie 1936 Fire Pumper Truck.

Ed was a man who was good with his hands. He could fix anything and loved to work. At the age of 23 he and his brother-in-­law built his first home for his family. Twenty-seven years later he gutted and remodeled his dream home on Shawnee Street which he and Carol lived in for another 25 years. They enjoyed this property and took great pride and care in maintaining it together.

When he was able to get away from his job, he loved being around the lake and enjoyed water skiing, but he probably derived just as much enjoyment building the pontoon boat, installing the giant slipper slide that flung children out into the water, and improving the lake front cabin property at Dabinawa. He just couldn’t sit still for long. This is how he expressed his love — through actions, more than words. Surviving a traumatic childhood accident which resulted in the deaths of his two brothers probably shaped the man who was friendly, but guarded with his emotions. But children,­­ especially his grandchildren, ­­could permeate the stoic exterior, and he lovingly dyed Easter eggs, iced cookies, jumped rope, shot baskets, cheered for young athletes, and allowed his nails to be painted. He pulled sleds in the snow and tubes and skiers on water, drove boats and tractors with kids on his lap, and, of course, worked alongside children to repair bikes, build scooters, and complete a plumbing or electric project for 4­H or boy scouts. As “Papa” followed his grandchildren’s accomplishments through the years, he could become downright sentimental and teary-eyed.

Ed and Carol enjoyed the company trips they were able to take while in business. Later, they traveled more in the U.S. and especially enjoyed their trips with family in Alaska, Japan, Oregon, England, and Morocco. In retirement Ed found like­minded friends in the Plain ‘Ole A’s car club. He restored a 1930 Model A pickup, and he and Carol toured around Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Colorado with this convoy of companions in cool cars.

Ed lived with Parkinson’ s disease the last 15 years of his life. He took his diagnosis in stride, continuing to give the gift of his knowledge and skills to those who needed help as long as he was able and perhaps learning to enjoy other aspects of living, like walks in the VFW Park, amidst the challenges this disease presented. Even after he reluctantly set down his tools, he continued to act as a consultant and to problem solve his family’s home issues. He was diagnosing the mechanical problems of buildings as he listened to them from his reclining chair or bed in his final days.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Slawson and Lillian Hutchinson Slawson; three brothers: David, Kenneth, and Gary Slawson; three sisters: Colene DeHoff, Rita Dickinson, and Rachel Hollingsworth; and granddaughter, Monica Miller.

Survivors include his wife Carol Slawson; three children: Pam Slawson and husband Tom Geyer of Lawrence, KS, Kent Slawson and wife Kate McClellan of Portland, OR, Jennifer Miller and husband Steve of Tonganoxie, KS; five grandchildren: Ryko Geyer, Stanislav Geyer, Danielle Miller, Leah Miller Edwards and husband R.J., and Audrey Miller; one brother, Lloyd Slawson; and one sister, Barbara Say.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ed Slawson’s name may be made to Tonganoxie Historical Society, the TUMC Vision Fund, or the Parkinson’s Foundation and sent to Quisenberry Funeral Home.