Vera J. Slater

Vera J. Slater, 97, of Rock Island, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Friendship Manor with her loving family by her side.

Visitation is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 6, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, immediately followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Tsawe-Munga (Lawrence) Chidongo officiating. Entombment will follow at Moline Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church.

The former Vera Jean Morley was born September 11, 1929, in Milan, Missouri, the daughter of Ferrel Sumner and Lula Belle (Parker) Morley. She graduated from Kewanee High School and married Thomas Russell Slater on July 17, 1953, in Moline. He died October 29, 2022.

Vera devoted much of her life to caring for her family and raising her three sons. She also worked a variety of jobs throughout the years, including as a binder for Desaulniers Printing Company, in payroll at Minneapolis-Moline Company, and as a nurse’s aide at Moline Public Hospital. She later spent 12 years serving as an interpreter for the hearing impaired at Lincoln Irving and Roosevelt Grade Schools, retiring in 1992.

Faith and service were important parts of Vera’s life. She was a 77-year member of Riverside United Methodist Church in Moline, where she was involved in the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and served as youth coordinator. She also served on the administrative board and the pastor-parish, property, nominations, stewardship, and missions committees, and was known for taking an active role in the church kitchen for decades.

Vera’s love of helping others reached well beyond her church. She was an active member of the Moline PTA for more than 20 years and was also a member of the Pilot Club of Moline. In her free time, she enjoyed cooking, knitting, traveling, walking, and reading. She will be especially remembered for the rag rugs she wove on the loom in her basement, giving them freely to family and friends.

Vera is survived by three sons, Mark (Cindy) Slater of Moline, Chris (Connie) Slater of Iowa City, and Todd (Lisa) Slater of Coal Valley, grandchildren, Melissa (Nick) Anderson, Lauren (Matt) Dufrene, Austin (Jessica Willens) Slater, Grant (Lexi) Slater, and Mason Slater; great-grandchildren, Dexter and Max Anderson, Rosemary Dufrene, and Noa and Emmett Slater; and her sister-in-law, Janice Morley. She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Lelan, Marilyn and Roy Morley.

The family would like to give special thanks to everyone at Friendship Manor and Beacon of Hope Hospice for the exceptional care given to Vera.

Stories and condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.