Robert Slayden

Robert Ray~Biker Bob~ Slayden, 88, Clarksville, TN, died Saturday, 28 March, at his daughter’s home in Hopkinsville, KY, surrounded by family, after extended illness.

Born 1931, Louisville, KY and raised in Paducah, KY.

Married 1958 to Mary Jo Goatley of Lowes, KY, til her death in 2001.

Military service in the Air Force, Kentucky National Guard, and the Army, with experiences in Kentucky, Germany, Georgia, India, Texas, Alaska, Alabama, retiring from Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Before continuing his college degree, after a stint in the Air Force during the Korean War, he spent his GI bill pursuing a boyhood dream of flying, acquiring a private pilots license.
He graduated from Murray State University in 1959, taught high school in Bridgeport, ILL, before returning to active duty in 1961 via Kentucky National Guard, amidst the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He continued his passion for learning throughout his life, enjoying piano, earning 3 masters degrees and nurturing his zeal for computers from the onset.

He enjoyed diverse work experiences beginning with roller skating car hop and rink guard to railroad switch operator on the Illinois Central Railroad alongside his father, Con, a railroad engineer, to quitting college and joining the Air Force during the Korean war to KY Natl. Guard to high school teacher and band director to the Army, ultimately retiring from Ft. Campbell, as NCO, 801st Bn., in 1979. He spent the next decade working in education; BSEP and the education center at Ft. Campbell, and Darmstadt, Germany, before returning to Fort Campbell Education Center where he helped develop and evolve the newly burgeoning computer dept., gratefully thanking every departing soldier for their service to our country.

In retirement he rekindled his lifelong love for motorcycling, becoming Biker Bob; exclusively riding a variety of Harley Davidson’s and joining Bikers Who Care and HOG. He rode many journeys from Little Sturgis to Washington DC~ Vietnam War Memorial Parade to Lewis and Clark Trail to Pacific Coast Highway with his son, Rob.

He began a new passion supporting Nashville Predators Hockey from their beginning, eventually with season tickets, and could often be heard hollering, “shoot the puck”, from his tier alongside his good friend, Kathe B.
He gave back to his community by volunteering at Clarksville Police Dept. for more than 10 years and participating in a number of BWC events and toy runs.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, of 42 years, and survived by his 3 children, Rob Slayden, Lisa Tate, and Kimi Slayden, and their spouses, Genita Massey Slayden, Dr. Kelly Tate, and Gerardus Riksen; 5 granddaughters, Carissa (Rob), Kyra (Rob), Shaelee (Lisa), Lauren and Jesalyn (Kelly); 2 great granddaughters, Lorelei and Rosalind (Lauren and Colt Wilson). Finally, a dog lover throughout his life, he leaves behind his Harley girl, Cody boy and Christian.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2020, at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West with Military Honors to follow.

Bob and Mary Slayden will reside together in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.

Biker Bob requested that in lieu of flowers, charitable donations be made to Bikers Who Care, an organization of Motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to supporting The Dream Factory of Clarksville, TN by fully sponsoring Camp Rainbow~ a Summer Camp for Seriously Ill Children.

Life is a journey,
you journeyed well...
now ride in peace,
and fare thee well...
forever more.
gone but not forgotten...
unforgettable father friend.
Thank you for our lives.

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