Florence Emma Jean Bowden Slade was born on September 19, 1928 in Olney, TX to parents May and Ernest Bowden. She was the baby of 11 children and was preceded in death by both of her parents and all of her siblings. She grew up poor but happy. She married Roy Slade from Mississippi and had two daughters, Sandra Sue (Susi) and Candace. Roy worked in the oil field, so they moved around quite a bit. They lived in many places, such as Wyoming, Montana, Laredo, and George West Texas just to name a few, before settling in Decker Prairie, TX, right outside of Tomball, TX. Florence's daughter Susi had two boys, Jody and Benny. Her daughter Candace had two children, Halie and Kory. Florence was never happier than when she was with her grandchildren, which were constant fixtures at her house. She was the best Granny, spoiling them and letting them do or have just about anything they wanted. She loved to play games like Yahtzee, Hangman, or even baseball in the front yard. She had a quirky side too. You might find her standing on her head (just to see how long she could), or dancing the Charleston through the kitchen. Just like her brother, "Uncle" Dude, she loved to whistle and was always singing. She also loved clocks; the more the merrier and the louder the better! She loved Pekingese dogs

and poodles, and had the most annoying poodle named "Cuddles" that no one could stand, but she loved and spoiled her anyway. She always had numerous cats, and even birds as well. Flo and her friends used to go to the wrestling matches down at the coliseum in Houston all of the time (She actually believed the wrestling was real!). She loved sports, and the Astros have always been her team. She liked watching football also, and was a huge fan of the Texans and J.J. Watt. Flo was always involved in something. She was room mother for many years at school, and she always attended the plays, band concerts, and football games, and enjoyed every minute of it.

She loved the Klein family, and worked at Klein's Supermarket for many years. It was a social place for her where she could visit with all of the local Tomball residents while she worked, and keep up with all of the juicy gossip! She retired from Klein's in 1998, and almost exactly one year later, suffered a major stroke. She moved into Southern Knights Assisted Living, and continued to live there for 19 years.

She grew to love the place and the staff, which all became members of her extended family. To this day, she lived at Southern Knights longer than any other resident, and truly considered Southern Knights her home. She was even the person who the staff would introduce prospective tenants to so she could convince them to live there.

Even after her stroke, she continued to live a happy, long life, and instilled happiness in all that had the pleasure of knowing her. She was a joy, and I'm so proud to say that she was my mom! She was

the best mom, Granny, wife, and friend to all, and she will be truly missed. It can honestly be said that they broke the mold with that one! We love you, may you rest in peace.

From Halie Hill (granddaughter):

My Granny,

Granny has been a part of pretty much every memory I have of my 30 years on this Earth. From teaching me how to burp my ABC's, watching Jeopardy with me every day after school, letting Kory and I fight over back rubs and who was going to sleep on the cot beside the bed at night (I always won that fight), Granny was always there. She put me on the school bus for my first time, she shared the same love and patience with all of the stray cats in the neighborhood as I did, and let me keep them ALL at her house (I now have my own cat named "Flo"), and she always let me sit in her lap, no matter how big I got. Some of my fondest memories were spending Summer days at Granny's house, playing outside in her goldfish pond, or riding my bike around her street, while she stood outside talking to all of the neighbors.

She taught me all about being strong, persevering no matter what, and being loyal to my word. She probably didn't know she taught me all of those life skills, but watching her work ethic at Klein's, and then watching her run an ironing business out of her house showed me what true dedication and hard work looked like. My brother, cousins, and I wouldn't be half the adults we are today without our Granny.

Times got a little tougher once she had her strokes. Our lives changed because we could no longer spend our days and nights with her. Regardless of her hardships though, every time I'd go visit

her, she'd be as happy as a lark, singing and whistling her day away. No matter where we were or how old we got, Granny always had to know what was going on in our lives. Her mind was as sharp as a tack,

and we couldn't get away with anything without Granny knowing. Sometimes I swear she was a little psychic.

She loved us until the very end. In fact, even though she wasn't very responsive on her last day, she still mustered up the strength to get happy when she heard my voice, and to tell me she loved me.

No one could ever replace her. She was the best grandma I could ever have had. I love you Granny.

From: Kory Hill (Grandson)

My Granny was the embodiment of pure, unconditional love. When she told you that she loved you, it wasn't just a sentiment. You felt that love deep in your core. Your heart would melt, and you would leave with a smile every single time. Even in her final hours she expressed her love for me, and I her. She taught me how to properly express the love I have for others. And I truly am a better person because of her. She didn't make her life about her; it was about the ones she loved. And I love her with all my heart. I miss her, but I know we need not worry about her anymore.

My memories of Granny before her strokes are somewhat limited. I was about 9 years old when she moved into Southern Knights Assisted Living. But what I do remember feel as vivid as if they happened yesterday. I remember laying in her lap as she rocked me and rubbed my back (she would also pat my butt, because that's the only way I would go to sleep). She would make me peanut butter crackers as I watched the Nutcracker on VHS. She had a plastic tree filled with frosted Dots that you could eat whenever you wanted. Next to that she always kept a bowl of bubble gum. It was a paradise for us as children. Yahtzee tournaments were common occurrences, and boy did she make a good

salmon patty. You could always find her singing, whistling, and ironing clothes for the entire city of Tomball.

After her strokes everything and nothing changed. Sure, she lost most of her mobility, and herspeech degraded to simple words and sentences. But it was never enough to deter her. She still thrived and lit up every room she entered. She was different, but still the same. You walked into her room and she showered you with hugs, kisses and "I love you's"(one of her favorite phrases). She remembered everyone and everything, so you had to watch what you said around her. And, even in her final

moments, she expressed the love she had for me and her family (her Southern Knights family as well). I am forever blessed and thankful to have called her my grandmother.

Thank you for everything Granny. I hope I can be at least half the person you were. Thank you for providing me with the world's most wonderful mother (she takes after you after all). Thank you for showing me God's grace through your endless love and compassion for all of us. The day after you passed a bird sang loudly outside my window, and it sure sounded a lot like your whistling. Thank you for always being there, and I will see you again when my time arrives. Fly high and sing loud for you have entered the presence of the Lord, and for that, we celebrate. I love you. I love you. I do

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.   Psalm 73:26