Lynn Slater, Slater,

Lynn Randolph Slater, Sr. passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2015, surrounded by love, at the age of 78. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, May 30, 2015. A celebration will also be held in El Paso the weekend of June 13th. Lynn was born Saturday, March 4th, 1937 in El Monte, California, to Susan Goodman. He was adopted and raised by Edward Omer Slater and Lucille (Gorman) Slater. His parents passed away when Lynn was fourteen, and he was taken in by loving family, his aunts Pat and Bertha, and Uncle Tommy. He graduated from El Paso's Austin High School in 1954 and later attended Texas Western University (The University of Texas at El Paso) and The University of Texas at Austin, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees. Lynn's life was blessed with two marriages; he married Beverly (Krigbaum) and together they had three adored children. In 1975, he married Billie (McKenzie) and that brought two more adored children into his life. Lynn and Billie spent the next forty years - as Lynn described it - "finding each other to be the most fascinating people in the room." Lynn started his professional career as a Private Detective. He investigated 43 murders, driving his convertible red Cadillac around town, and could entertain anyone with stories of his clients' shady escapades. When the chance to help a seriously injured teenage migrant named Antonacio arose, Lynn and his wife, Billie, fought the El Paso Railroad for damages on behalf of the teen, and won a significant settlement for him. Lynn then turned his attention towards education, and was the Division Chair of Technological Programs at El Paso Community College. He also fought for equality, forging paths for underemployed women in El Paso, and ultimately building a nationally-recognized, multi-service center for the homeless, also in El Paso. This center, The Opportunity Center for the Homeless, has flourished, and now consists of nine shelters, offering classes, employment assistance, medical and mental health services, and a place to feel valued. Later in life, Lynn and Billie were lured to Austin in order to spend time with some of their young grandchildren. Together, they continued their ceaseless work towards social justice, leading the Social Justice Committee at their church and volunteering at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), now known as Front Steps (www.frontsteps.org). They also committed a great amount of time and effort working with Death Row inmates. He gave everyone a chance - especially those that others had given up on. As everyone who knew Lynn knows, he was always ready to be entertained, and was interested in everyone and their lives. He was a complex man, eminently human, and very much loved. Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, his aunts Pat and Bertha and uncle Tommy Gorman, and one grandson, Dustin. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Billie Slater of Austin, his former wife and friend, Beverly Sensiba of Seattle; three daughters, Sharon Rose Slater and husband, Johnny Woods, of Wimberley, Beverly Anne Slater and partner, Su Docekal, of Seattle, and Laura Leonard Stiles and husband, Craig, of Austin; two sons, David Leonard and wife, Marita, of Austin, and Lynn Randolph Slater, Jr. and wife, Debbie, of Fremont, CA; seven grandchildren, Emma, Kincaid, Henry, and Charlie of Austin, as well as Darcey, Makinley, and Delaney of Fremont, CA; brother, Jack Goodman of Austin; and cousins, Donna Carick, Cori Gorman, Mark Gorman, Eileen Gorman, Chris Gorman, Terry Gorman, and Vickie Gorman-Page. In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor and memory of Lynn may be made to the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) Front Steps, 500 E. 7th, Austin, Texas, 78701, or by visiting the following link https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=74-2824054 .