DORA (EDDE) SLAVIN

Dora (Edde) Slavin, 105, of Hiawatha, KS, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, April 9, 2016, at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Hiawatha. She was born on July 22, 1910 to Charles Joe and Pearl (Reser) Edde on a farm near Powhattan, KS.

In 1912, her parents and five children moved to her grandparents’ homestead near Horton, KS, where she attended Hickory Grove School and Horton High School. Dora graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1928, and then from the Kansas City General Hospital School of Nursing; she earned a post-graduate nursing degree at KU Medical Center. Upon graduation, Dora became night nursing supervisor of Kansas City General, a 750-bed, all-charity hospital.

Dora was united in marriage to Manuel Slavin MD, U.S, Army, in 1942. He preceded her in death in 1961, at Shreveport, LA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. After her husband’s death, Dora lived with her mother, Pearl Edde, in Hiawatha. After her mother’s death in 1971, Dora moved to Tulsa, OK, to live with her sister, Effie, and brother-in-law. Dora and her sister moved from Tulsa to Hiawatha in 1990. Effie died in August 2004.  

Dora served as Red Cross hostess on the USS Haven Navy hospital ship during World War II at Terminal Island, Long Beach, CA.  This ship brought 2,000 patients from Pearl Harbor to Long Beach.  She also served as volunteer RN at blood banks at Long Beach and Tulsa.

In addition to her husband, mother and sister, Dora was preceded in death by her father; two other sisters, Cecil Shaiffer and Edith Cash; and a brother, Sherman Edde. In 2008, her cousin, Carl Reid, had a heart attack and he moved to Maple Heights with Dora. He continued staying with her so she could live in her home so she wouldn’t be alone.  

Dora attributed her longevity and many pain-free years to wisdom and guidance from God and Jesus’ healing power, along with prayers from her church family. She was a longtime member of First Christian Church of Hiawatha.

Survivors include a nephew, Robert (Anne) Cash, of Hiawatha; a niece, Norma Rocha, of  Gadsden, AL; cousins, Carl Reid, Arthur (Martha) Wenger and Josephine Merchant; and other relatives.

Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2016 at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha, with Rev. Dennis Alan Fullbright officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to the service Friday. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Christian Church, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S. 7th St., 66434.

A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com