Jack Slaton Jr. was born on August 31, 1938, was the third child born to Jack Slaton Sr. and Levongia (Salery) Slaton in Merced California. Jack passed away on November 9, 2018 in Merced California surrounded by family at the age of 80.
Jack was a lifelong resident of Merced. Jack was a member of Second Baptist Church where he sang in the choir of his grandparents Maggie Ella Bishop Salery and Rev. Arthur L. Salery’s church. He attended Galen Clark Elementary, Hoover Junior High and graduated from Merced High School in 1957. Jack was a star athlete playing football and running track. He was responsible for winning 4 of the 44 medals his high school team won at the West Coast Relays.
Jack married Jessie Mae Nelson in 1958, and together they had five children. They were very supportive of their children and could be seen on the sidelines of elementary, junior high, high school, college, and professional football (NFL) sporting events. Jack found great pride and pleasure in taking care of his parents, family, traveling and spending time with friends and family. He liked to ride around and look at the countryside and see how things had changed. He witnessed the development of many major companies in the San Joaquin Valley from Foster Farm, Gallo Winery, Bartlett Petroleum, and many others too numerous to mention. He lived a clean life, never had a hungry day in his life, and knew a lot of good people, too many to even try to list.
Jack’s first job was as a mechanic with Leonard Tank Lines. Another early job was with Ross Ludington where he also worked as a mechanic. He was a master mechanic with a genius ability to take a diesel engine apart and put it back together with his eyes closed and to create tools that had not been made. He was the owner-operator of Slaton Trucking and a Diesel Mechanic. He has flown across the country repairing farm equipment and helping diesel mechanics resolve the mission impossible diesel engine problems. He came to the rescue of many along the California roadways with his ability to solve engine and life problems, big and small. His early trucking work was for V. C. Britton who supplied hay and alfalfa products to Foster Farms, Zacky Farms and exported them over the world. Trucking has taken Jack Jr. all over California and the western United States including Idaho and Texas.
He hauled grain, fruits, vegetables along with numerous other agriculture for Continental Grain, Cargill, Perret Farms, and many major companies to mills and canneries throughout the central valley. He would say “If it can be put on a truck, he could haul it.” He was one of the first African American truckers in California to haul life stock. He had the highest work ethics and standards and with each company, he worked for he leaves many close friends. In his later years of trucking, he purchased Brewer Trucking with Curt Freeze. Jack Slaton Jr. along with his father Jack Slaton Sr. provided over 70 years of service as Jack Slaton Trucking. His grandfather John Slaton, his father and several uncles drove trucks, trucking was in his blood. He was a professional driver and master truck driver and taught many people how to drive cars, trucks, and buses. He was an outstanding son, brother, cousin, uncle, husband, father, and friend. He was loved and respected by many. He was an exceptional son and his parents were very proud of him. He will always be held in the highest regard for his extraordinary hard work, incomparable determination, and love for others. He was a brilliant, happy fun-loving person that enjoyed telling remarkable stories about his adventures that taught us all lesson about life.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, the love of his life and best friend Jessie Mae Nelson, brother Eugene Slaton and sisters Pearline Harper, Pauline Hickman and son (Darryl Moore).
Jack is survived by his children Mark, Kent, Tony (Vicki), LaVonne, and Dion, sisters, Rosetta Henagan, Florine Williams, Jacqueline Rinero, and Hilda Singh. He also leaves behind grandchildren, Marcus, (Ben), Lanard, Brandie Noelle, Denisha, Briana, Dene’, Brisa and 6 great-grandchildren. Jack Slaton Jr. would take on any challenge and would say “if you see me fighting a bear help the bear.” He has won the fight!
