Slatton marks 101st

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard

Russell Tullos Slatton, center, a native of Van Buren County, is assisted by daughter Jeannie Crain and son Teddy Slatton as he prepares to blow out the candles on his decorated cake. Slatton reached his 101st birthday on Jan. 21.

Russell Tullos Slatton marked his 101st birthday Jan. 21 as friends and family members filled the activity room at NHC Healthcare to celebrate the occasion. He has been a resident at the facility for just over four years.

The Van Buren County native, born on Jan. 21, 1904, is a retired farmer who also spent many hours at his favorite pastime – hunting and fishing.

When asked what he credits for his longevity, he replied, “It’s from walking in the fields and all over the mountain.”

On his shoulders, he would carry sacks of corn to be ground at the grist mill located about three miles away and then make the return trip which also included a mile leading straight up the mountain. It was several years later before he owned an automobile.

Slatton raised his eight children along Tandy’s Knob on Bone Cave mountain. One son, Russell Wilburn Slatton, died at the age of 17. The other seven children were among those present for the birthday party. They are Jewelene Luna of Nashville, Dale Slatton of Benton, Ky., Teddy Slatton of McMinnville, Karl Slatton of White County, Janie Brymer and Joanie Troglen of Van Buren County and Jeannie Crain of St. Louis, Mo. Also enjoying the festivities was his brother, Kenneth Slatton.

The rectangle birthday cake depicted a miniature farming scene, including chickens at a red barn and a tractor in the fields. The numerals “101” stood upright beside a limited number of candles.