Virginia Slate, 90

Virginia Marie Slate “Gee”, went home to Jesus at age 90 on July 21, 2021. Her children Dennis, Donald, and Debbie were at her bedside as she passed from this life into Glory. Virginia was born to Charles and Verna Fisher on Oct. 11, 1930, in Deming, N.M. Since her dad was a gold miner during the depression, they traveled many places for work, ending up in Grass Valley where she graduated from high school in 1948.

After graduation Gee moved to Sacramento with her sister Grace, where she met and married her husband Ray in 1951 in Sacramento, Calif. and went on to have 5 children. Karen and Sharon both died shortly after birth. Dennis, Debbie, and Don soon followed. Ray and Gee moved to Galt, Calif. in 1960.

During her working years she worked for an insurance company and a key punch operator. After she was married, she worked for her husband’s construction business, and in later years she also worked for California Cedar and a Public Water Co.

After moving to Galt, Calif., Virginia started attending Galt Baptist Church and made sure Dennis, Debbie, and Don went right along with her. They all made professions of faith and were baptized in 1966. Virginia had a beautiful voice and joined the Galt Baptist Church choir, along with her sister Grace. Both sisters joined the Galt Community Choir and sang together for cantatas and special events. The family loved music and would often sing together. Gee’s grandma Grayble played the harmonica, and her uncle Smudge played the piano by ear.

Grace and Virginia, as well as two other couples, started a church out at Herald, Calif. on Easter Sunday in 1972. They held services at a little red schoolhouse until the church was built in 1985.

Virginia loved riding horses and took equestrian riding lessons with her sisters Grace and Bobbi. She also rode a Yamaha 100 motorcycle which she enjoyed riding on trails with family.

After her husband Ray retired in 1992, they moved to Northern Idaho to the town of Cataldo, where Virginia lived until her passing.

In addition to being a dedicated loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Gee loved to quilt. She made quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to read. Besides reading the Bible, Mary Higgins Clark mysteries were her favorite. She always put Bible verses on her refrigerator and bathroom mirror. She served in every church she became a member at. She worked in the nursery, taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school, cleaned the church, and sang in the choir. She lived out her faith in God and passed it on to her children and grandchildren.

Virginia M. Slate is survived by her three children: Dennis Slate of Cataldo, Idaho, Debbie Roberge (Frank) of Rathdrum, Don Slate of Cataldo, Idaho, sisters Grace McCune of Herald, Calif. and Barbara Sena of Sacramento, Calif., 8 grand-children and 11 great grand-children.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, three brothers, two daughters, one grandson and one grandson-in-law.

Virginia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ray, of 44 years, when he went to be with the Lord in 1995. They are together again but will truly be missed.

Services will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church, 13329 W. Hayden Ave., Post Falls, Idaho.

Services will also be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Herald Baptist Church, 12037 Conley Road, Herald, Calif.