Edwin Dean "Ed" Slavens, Sr., 86, of Wellsville, passed away at 9:49 p.m., Monday, May 1, 2017 at his home, with his family by his side.

Mr. Slavens was born August 22, 1930 in Rush Hill, Missouri, a son of Edwin Drake and Georgia Jemima (Peak) Slavens.

He was a 1948 graduate of Laddonia High School.

On June 13, 1953, he married Joan Mabyn Dunbar, sharing over 63 years of marriage together.

Ed and Joan have lived at their present address since October 2013. Prior to that, Ed had lived on his farm Northwest of Wellsville for over 60 years.

He was a farmer and raised cattle and row crops.

Ed was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church in rural Wellsville. He was also a member of Central Missouri Old Tractors.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching baseball, listening to country music and reading. Ed loved going to tractor pulls with his Super M Farmall tractor that he bought in 1953, the year he and Joan got married.

Ed is survived by his wife, Joan Mabyn Slavens, of the home in Wellsville; six children and spouses, Edwin Dean "Scotty" Slavens, Jr., of Wellsville and friend, Danielle Fraggetta, of St. Charles, Brenda Joyce Guerra, of Alexandria, Virginia, Sandra Jo "Sandy" and Gary Uthe, of Wellsville, James Drake "Jim" Slavens, of Fulton, John Arthur Slavens, of Tucson, Arizona and Clarence Ray Slavens, of Ottumwa, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Scott William Slavens and Sherry Maxey, of Platteville, Wisconsin, Jeremy and Allison Guerra, of Fort Worth, Texas, Rebecca Guerra, of Alexandria, Virginia, Sarah Guerra, of Denton, Texas, Christian and Kayla Uthe, of Bland, Zackery and Crystal Uthe, of Wellsville, Josh and Lauren Purcell, of Bolivar, Elizabeth Slavens and Josh Brink, of Fulton and Brad Slavens, of Fulton; twelve great-grandchildren, Wesley and Andrea Slavens, of Williamsburg, Brett May, of Wellsville, Barron May, of Linn, Adessa and Brian Lovell, of Kailua, Hawaii, Rylee Uthe, of Bland, Alexandria Brink, of Fulton, Vincent, Liam, Phillip and Scarlett Guerra, of Fort Worth, Texas and Keagan and Kaden Purcell, of Imperial Beach, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Kitty Diane Slavens May.

Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville. Rev. Dawn Gerard officiated. Serving as organist was Cleta Mertz. Special music was provided by Larry Dunn and Julie Gatson.

Burial was in Laddonia Cemetery in Laddonia, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Scott Slavens, Brad Slavens, Christian Uthe, Zackery Uthe, Jeremy Guerra and Josh Brink. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Blaue, Dennis Lehnen, Gene Peak, Harold Todd and Charles Wohlbold.

Visitation was held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions were suggested to the American Cancer Society c/o Myers Funeral Home, 203 East Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.

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