Gaylene Marie Slattery, of Indianapolis, formerly of Chesterton, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at Indiana Heart Hospital, Indianapolis. She was 65.

She was born May 17, 1942 in Gardner, Kan., the daughter of Homer Charles and Marie Leithe (Sears) Starr, both of whom preceded her in death.

On Dec. 29, 1959 in Cairo, Mo., she married Thomas E. Slattery, who survives in Indianapolis.

She is also survived by a son, Tim Slattery of Bowling Green, Ky; a daughter, Susan (Michael) Garrard of Indianapolis; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Slattery of Bowling Green, Ky.; a brother, Arnold Starr of Missouri; a sister, Rosalie Starr DuVall of Mo. and grandchildren, Nicholas, Hannah and MacMillan Slattery of Bowling Green, Ky. and William and Thomas Garrard of Indianapolis.

Gaylene took great pride in having worked for Paulson Oil Company as a bookkeeper for 18 years. She was a hard worker and cared very much about doing the best job she could. She was always grateful to have had the opportunity to make better life for her children than she had for herself as a child. Gaylene and Tom loved to travel whenever her health allowed. Over the last 47 years, they traveled to every state capital in the continental United States. They attended International Lions Club conventions in Seoul South Korea, Montreal Canada and Birmingham England. Gaylene traveled and worked on three mission trips to Mexico with the Lions Club, fitting eyeglasses to those in need. Most important to her was her family. She rarely, if ever, missed a sporting event or band competition that one of her children was in. She tried to see important events in her grandchildren’s lives as well, traveling often to Bowling Green to see swim meets, dance recitals and spend quality time with her family.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Cremation is scheduled.

Memorials may be made to Indiana Lions Cancer Control or The American Lung Association.

Arrangements are under the direction of Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home.

Posted 6/14/2007