Kathleen G. Slawson

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Kathleen G. Slawson, 93, died at Twin Rivers Care and Rehabilitation Center, Defiance, OH on June 5 as a
result of a stroke.
She was a former resident of Henry Ford Retirement Center in Dearborn, MI and lived many years in St.
Clair Shores, MI.
Born in Maysville KY, in 1920, she was adopted at an early age by Dr. Virgil David Guittard and Saburna
Edith Masson, a medical team devoting care to Indian reservations. She grew up in several reservations
in Wisconsin and Michigan before moving to Bowling Green, OH. She attended Bowling Green High School,
where she met her husband Sam J. Slawson. She graduated from BGHS at age 14 and attended BGSU before
marrying Sam on December 31, 1937.
During the 40s and 50s she was an elementary school teacher in the Bowling Green City School and Liberty
Township School districts. Upon moving to St. Clair Shores, MI her interests were in various civil
rights movements: Martin Luther King, United Farm Workers Strike, school integration through busing,
court watching, etc. This led to the 1988 Brotherhood-Sisterhood Award sponsored by the Detroit area
Interfaith Center for Human Rights.
Her goal in life was to "help children be fair human beings and teach them to give other human
beings a fair shake." Accused of being a "flaming radical" she was working toward the
eradication of 3 "isms" still predominant today: racism, sexism and ageism.
When Sam retired they pursued another love: traveling. She and Sam took many camping trips and enjoyed
taking two to four grandchildren at a time with them. One of her goals was to visit every continent and
Australia was the only continent to elude her.
She is survived by four children: Marjorie Castanien, Defiance, OH; Robert Slawson, Baltimore MD;
Margaret Anne Slawson, Traverse City, MI; and Susan Hancock, Dayton. OH. Grand-children: Carol
Castanien-Bohn, Napoleon, OH; Barbara Castanien, Gahan-na, OH; Jon Castanien, Waterville, OH; Greg
Castanien, Defiance; Paul Slawson, Beverly, MA; Deb (Bruce) Lautner, Traverse City, MI; Lisa (Rick)
Schaub, Lake Ann, MI; Cyndi (Brent) Lake, Williamsburg, MI; and Stephanie Bruss, Traverse City. She also
enjoyed her 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam, a granddaughter (Jo Marie Castanien of Defiance) and an
infant great-granddaughter (Melissa Sue Lautner of Traverse City.)
Continuing her desire to be of help she wished her body be donated to a university for scientific
studies. The University of Toledo Medical College accepted her body.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
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