Birdie Slack

Birdie Bell Slack was born September 6, 1918 to Ollie Kincheloe and Young Bell in Pecos, Texas. She spent her early years of life living on the Bell Ranch in Loving County. After the death of her mother, her father moved his daughters to Pecos, so they could start school. One of the greatest gifts of her life was having two great mothers. Her father was remarried to Helen Jackson who was as wonderful a mother as anyone could have been. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth L Slack, her parents, Ollie Bell, Helen Bell and Young Bell, her sister Jessie Bell Allen, and a great grandson, Ethan Young Box. Those left to cherish her memory are sons, Young (Lynn) Slack and Ken (Betsey) Slack both of Dallas, and daughter Gail (Hugh) Box of Pecos, nieces Lynn Allen of Dallas, Laura Quisenberry (Randy)of Spring Branch, Martha Reid (John) of Ripley, Mississippi, Sue Lempke of Tuson, AZ, nephews, Roy (Maureen) Slack of Tucson, AZ and Mike (Debbie) Slack of Port Townsend, WA. Birdie had four grandchildren: Lee and Will Slack, Koh Box and Lori Evans as well as eight great-grand children: Adeline, Pace, Grace, Bridgette and Brilynn Evans, Dalton, Clabe and Louisa Box.
Birdie graduated from PHS in 1935 and her father sent her and Jessie to Texas Christian University to study business and accounting. At the end of that year he had them come back home to work in the family business, the Bell Garage.
Birdie married her childhood sweetheart, Kenneth Lester Slack in Pecos on May 24, 1946. She received her teaching degree from Sul Ross and enjoyed teaching for 28 years. She loved her students and her fellow teachers. There was never a dull moment with Birdie around. Life was fun and full of laughter. She was an active member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and for many years was in charge of meals at the Church. Birdie and Elizabeth Schmidt were instrumental in starting God's Army in the 80's. Both elderly at that time, Birdie would say, "I am Elizabeth's legs and she is my eyes". In the early 2000's when the Pecos economy was suffering, Birdie started a prayer group to ask God's help for renewed prosperity for Pecos. Her family felt like it was a very steep hill to climb, but she clearly had God's ear. Everything Birdie did was with grace and determination. She spread the love of her faith to others by example. She loved the Lord and prayed as speaking to a friend. Her home was always open to the Wycliffe Bible translators to have a place to stay while passing through town. When she was not able to come to Church anymore, Rick Derrick with the Cowboy Church, Randy Graham and Greg Mitchell started meeting with her on Sunday mornings. Paster Kevin was always good to come visit her. On Tuesday evenings Birdie's prayer group met at her house. She enjoyed them so much. For many years she was a member of the Modern Study Club and the Twentieth Century Club. She loved to play bridge with her bridge group until her declining eyesight made it too hard to play. She loved Pecos and she enjoyed the museum and sending people to tour it. Her family, The Young Bell Family, was honored at the museum as the Pioneer Family in 1998. She was passionate about helping and caring for others and always had a smile on her face. She was always including others to join in family holidays. You never knew who might be next to you at Christmas or Thanksgiving. She truly understood the meaning of welcoming the stranger. As long as she could drive, she took food to the sick or to shut-ins. She loved her family and friends and prayed for them faithfully. The last few years of Birdie's life were often difficult, but she never lost her sense of humor, her kindness and concern for everyone around her, or her complete reverence and joy for life.

Birdie was fortunate to be able to stay at home on Bell Acres because of her wonderful and loving caregivers. They made her happy and always look her best. Thank you so much Elia Jay, Jodie Martinez, Joyce Jenkins, Margie Tarin, Irma Gavaldon, Candy Ornelas, Perla Gutierrez, and Gilda Leos whose family called her Sweetie. Thank you to Dr Serrano for always being available along with Myra Taylor. With a single text, you two were always there.
Birdie wanted to donate her body to Texas Tech Medical School. Her celebration of life will be Friday, June 2nd at 4 PM at First Baptist Church in Pecos.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to The First Baptist Church, the West of the Pecos Museum, or the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame all in Pecos.

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