Mr. Frank W. Slate, age 45, of Grindstone Island died Sunday, Sept 8th.
Calling hours will be from 3-7pm Thursday, Sept.12, at the T.R. Jetty Funeral Home in Clayton. There will be a graveside committal service at 10am, Friday morning at Grindstone Island Cemetery. A reception will follow at Dodge Hall.
Clayton Island Tours will be providing transportation for anyone who would like to attend the funeral on Friday. Pickup will be at 9am at the Clayton Municipal Docks, downtown, with a return time of 1:30pm.
Donations can be made in his name to an Education Fund for his daughter, Emma, C/O Community Bank, State Street, Clayton.
Frank was born October 18, 1967, in Alexandria Bay, the son of Erma Slate. He was a 1986 graduate of Thousand Islands High School.
Frank worked as a Marine Mechanic until the time of his death for over 27 years for Northern Marine. All who worked with Frank at the marina were considered members of his family.
On August 25, 2001, he married the former Betty Paxton, on Grindstone Island, with over 400 people attending.
Frank enjoyed going to Potters Beach, hunting, snowmobiling, carving decoys and especially spending time with his daughter Emma.
Surviving besides his wife Betty is a daughter, Emma, at home; his mother, Erma Slate of Grindstone; one brother Harry and is wife Urch (Eileen) of Grindstone; his mother-in-law and her husband Kitty and Salt Garnsey of Florida; aunts and uncles; nieces, nephews, cousins: and his extended family and friends of Grindstone Island.
Lesa Winter
There is a place for you Frankie in all our hearts. God bless you on your journey. To all the families of Grindstone, may you all have the strength to get thru this. Frank was a wonder man raised by a wonderful and loving family GRINDSTONE, I am very proud to call it my home too
Lisa Solar and Billy Brown
You will be missed Frank by all…..To your family , we send our deepest sympathies for the loss of a good man and friend. Rest in peace Frank and keep watch over all of us
Penne Swingle (Frick)
Frank touched the hearts and lives of so very many people. It is so sad to have lost such a great man so young. Frank, we will miss you. Thanks for so many great memories while I was on Grindstone. My deepest sympathies to all the family. Erma, my heart is breaking for you and my prayers are with all of you.
Chick & Barry
Thoughts and prayers to Betty, Erma and all of our Grindstone family. Will always remember your smiling face.
Chick & Barry
Thoughts and prayers to Betty, Erma and our Grindstone family. We will miss your smiling face.
Nancy Beauregard
Jim, Stephanie, Kim, and I are so saddened to know about the loss of your husband, Frank. You have our deepest sympathies. We can tell from the picture of the two of you and Emma that your tragic loss is truly heartbreaking. Our prayers are with you and your entire family. “To live in hearts left behind is not to die.” God bless all of you.
Gary and Tins
Our hearts go out to Frankie’s family and Northern Marine. We are so saddened by his passing as he spent so much time working on our project boat at Northern Marine and gave us so much helpful advice. He was the best and no one can replace such a wonderful man. We will miss his smile and friendly manner. God has another angel.
Marc, Cindy (Garnsey) and Morgan McAleese
Our hearts are truly broken… We loved you so much Frank!! You have been a wonderful friend to us for many, many years. I will never forget all of the Christmas’ that we spent at “the farm” as kids sitting in the recliner opening presents… Those are wonderful memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life! Thank you for those, and the thousands of other memories you’ve given us!! May your journey through the Kindgom of Heaven be “Gooder than Good”!! Rest in Peace my dear, dear friend!!
Peggy and Michael Mole
Dear Betty, Erma, Harry and all your family–
While we can barely touch the emptiness and loss which you are feeling right now, please know that we reach out to support you in any way we can and to let you know that you are not alone. Your loss of such a kind, thoughtful, caring son, brother and husband is mirrored in the feeling of so many friends and family. We are all now sharing that paradox of island life where the closeness, trust and acceptance among island neighbors is magnified when any member is lost.
Frank will remain a part of you. His memory, his kindness and caring will remain a beacon for all of us in the future life of our Grindstone family.
With love,
Michael and Peggy
Robert Londraville
Dear Erma, Betty, Harry and Family,
Just a note to extend my regrets to your loss of a Loved One. When my Loved Ones have passed my recollection is that the flower has faded but the seed remains…….
Deepest Regrets,
Bob
Rich Badi
My deepest condolences . Frank was great guy. Never seen him down. Always had a smile or something nice to say. You’ll be missed buddy.
Vickie Darcy
Dear Erma and Family,
John and I send our deepest condolences. The tributes listed here to Frank, show how much he was loved and how much he impacted the lives of others. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
John & Vickie Darcy
Lloyd Edwards, Ryan, Eric and Weezie
Dear Erma, Betty, Emma and the extended Grindstone Island family
Thank you for sharing Frankie with the rest of us. His infectious smile, wonderful sense of humor and warm and gentle demeanor will be sadly missed. Please know that although we can’t replace your loss, we will all be there for you going forward.
Frank Frank, -I hope you got your “Hot Tub”
Shelly Young
Frank will be missed by sooo many people. He had a carefree attitude. He would always speak to you. I got to know him by coming into The Gals Place. I would always smile when he walked in that door because I knew he was going to say something off the wall. He just brightened the day up for everybody. He would always say hidy ho. Not sure if spelled right but he wouldn’t have cared. I just want to say sorry to everyone who knew him whether it be his immediate family or his northern marine family or just his many friends in general. He will be deeply missed by all. Rest in peace Frank!!!!!
Tony Azzoto
My deepest condolences goes out to his family he left behind. Frank always greeted my family, and myself with the utmost respect , and he will always be remembered in our hearts. Your smile will sadly missed. Peace be with you.
Diane and Terry Szlucha
Dear Kitty, Salt, Betty and Emma,
Our deepest and most sincere sympathy to you and all those who have heavy hearts at the loss of you son-in-law, husband, and father. What gives all of you pain gives us pain as well. We want you to know that you have our prayers and our love. We ask our Heavenly Father to be with all of you and to give you the peace you so need. May He touch your hearts with love and comfort, and may He be by your side each time you need Him.
Blessings and hugs,
Diane and Terry Szlucha
Debbie Shaffner
I want to extend my sympathy on Your loss, it is all our loss. Frankie was a special guy who always had a smile, always a good word. He lived with love and happiness. Words are never enough but you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lauren and Renato Sarti
Dear Betty, Emma, Erma, Kitty, Salt and family,
What a loss to your family and to all of us on beloved Grindstone….a loss for years to come. We hope that time will heal and nothing but good memories will sustain you in the days, months and years to come. I would like to share this quote with you: “You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he has lived. You can close your eyes and hope that he’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.”
With Blessings,
Lauren and Renato Sarti
Rasto and Tina
Rest in peace Frank, you are being missed in Canada too………you will live in our memories…..
Stacy and Paige Sulski
Betty and Emma we are so sorry for your loss. You are both in our thoughts and prayers. We know we are 2000 miles away now but please know we are here for you. We love you both.
Stacy and Paige (Spark/Milkyway) Sulski
Jackie Murray
Kitty and family, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. There are no words to say that will ease your hearts, time will lessen the hurt.
Nancy and Ariel Lawrence
Dear Irma, Harry and Urch,
We are so very sorry about Frank. Although we did not know him we certainly knew of him from far and wide and know what a devastating loss it will be to you and to his wife and daughter.
Our very deepest sympathy,
Nancy and Ariel
Gina faust-twiss & gary faust
Dear Slate Family, we are so sorry for your loss.Our thoughts are with you.We are thinking of the family at this time.
Gina faust-twiss & gary faust
Dear the Slate Family, We are so sorry for your loss.Our thoughts are with you at this time.We are thinking of you. with Sympathy- Gina Faust & Gary Leo Faust
Britt & Glen Keesler and family
Dear Betty, Emma, Aunt Kitty, Uncle Salt, Mike, Erma, and family,
I can’t put into words how sorry I am for your terrible loss. Even though I didn’t know him as much as others, the little I did see him I enjoyed. I was happy too talk with him in July. His smile was so cute. He was a person I liked right away. I also liked him for the fact that he made all of you happy. I had always heard of what a great person he was. I can believe it. I truly wish I could have been there to comfort you and hug you like you did for me in July. Once again, we are so sorry. I can’t stop thinking about everyone. You are all in my prayers and I love you all.
Love,
Britt & Glen
Frank Cleverly
Dear Erma, Harry, Betty and Emma, I am very sorry for your loss, I knew Frank all his life he was the best of the best. He was always there for me and Bruce whenever we needed him or his expertise. You will truly be missed. I can still see you sitting in that old pickup truck with that smile on your face, hanging on the wall in your mothers kitchen, God Bless . Frank Cleverly
Megan L. Whitton
You were loved by so many and you will be missed so much . I may have only got to see you durning the summer, but you always told me how much I look like my momma and gave me a hug and a kiss. Give my momma and gramp a hug.
BC Bevan
So sorry brother. You always had an immence big heart and im so glad to have known you growing up. We did some crazy fun shit together as kids and it deeply saddens me that we di not get The opportunity to remonisce about those times. I know you are greatly missed by all locally and those who moved far away…Rest in peace my friend. ;( Brent
Jayme Spearnock
I never got to meet you, but my daughter, brother, nephew and niece did, and my grandson was friends with your daughter. After I heard about you, I was so anxious to meet my “new” cousin! The others were so happy they got to spend time with you, and my brother was looking forward to hunting with you. It wasn’t meant to be, but as I read the tributes to you, I see how loved you were, and that says so much about the kind of person you were. I hope to meet you one day in heaven!
Liz Heidenreich
Dear Irma, Harry and Betty,
I was looking for Frank’s address today as I have a story I wanted to share with him. I was so saddened to hear this news. My sincere condolences to all of you.
I was Frankie and Harry’s teacher for a year on Grindstone Island. Liz Wallace. I hold such fond memories of him as a child. I visited Grindstone years ago and met Betty but missed Frank. Please email me if you wish and I will pass the memory I have to you.