Gene Slaughter, 77, passed away Wednesday, July 31 from pneumonia. Gene loved his family and his friends that he considered family. He loved New Mexico, Colorado, mountains and rivers. He loved cats and all small animals. He will be remembered as a quiet soul, who could always be depended on to be there and to help when needed. Gene was born to Willie “Buck” Slaughter and Dorothy Wells in Shiloh, Texas. While Texas-born, Gene grew up mostly in New Mexico and called Aztec, NM his home. After serving proudly in the U.S. Air Force, Gene moved to Plano, Tx. Gene and Nannette Daly married in 1969 and happily bickered daily for almost 40 years until she predeceased him in 2009. Gene spent almost his entire career at LTV/E-Systems/Raytheon where he was an electrical engineer. After retirement, he and Nannette moved back to Aztec, NM where they loved gardening, traveling through the Colorado mountains, and watching wildlife. After 15 happy years in New Mexico, the lure of Texas and grandkids called and Gene and Nannette moved back to Kaufman, Tx where they both resided until their passings. Gene was a founding member of the North Texas Antique Tractor and Engine Club. He was also a long-time member of the E-Systems Retirees Club. Gene was predeceased by his parents and his sister Bette Perry. He is survived by his sisters Ginger Taylor and Kathy Ellison and his brother Bob Sheppard. He is also survived by two daughters, Bonita Doyle and Judge Gena Slaughter and her husband, Richard Faulkner; grandchildren Beau, Mason, Evangeline and Grayson; and great-grandchildren Jackson and Harrison. Gene is also survived by his family of choice, including Richard and Brenda Gray, Tanya Truitt, Michael Truitt and the entire Truitt family. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the Kaufman County Cowboy Church, 5970 State Hwy 243, Kaufman, Texas. Please dress comfortably – jeans and boots, if you have them. Gene never wore a suit and tie unless forced to, so he wouldn’t want his friends and family to either. As he wished, Gene was cremated; part of his ashes will be interred with his wife Nannette in a private service and the remainder will be scattered at a later time over two of his favorite places – Wolf Creek Pass and Engineer Pass in the mountains of southern Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Dallas Cat Lady rescue group, dallascatlady.org or his place of worship, the Kaufman County Cowboy Church, kaufmancountycowboychurch.org.