Kathern Slaten

Kathern Irene Rowland Slaten, 73, of Little Rock, was made whole again on Sunday, November 1, 2020, as she left her earthly home, awoke in heaven and walked for the first time in over 20 years, on streets of gold.  She was the first child born to Darrell and Mary Kathern (Craft) Rowland, while stationed in Rock Springs, Wyoming, on November 10, 1946.  She graduated from Metropolitan Vo-Tech in Little Rock in 1966 and lived most of her life in Little Rock and East End areas.  Kathern was a member of Word Alfame Fellowship, formerly the First United Pentecostal Church, for over 30 years, where she was involved in the children’s ministry and was a faithful member of the choir. She later became a member of New Life Pentecostal Church in NLR, until her health made it impossible for her to attend.

To say Kathern had a hard life, would be putting it mildly. In 1967, Kathern became a single mom when she had her first daughter, Lauri Zhanae Rowland.  Having a baby before marriage in the 1960s was not “socially acceptable”, and was very difficult, but she made the best of it, securing a job at Phillips (Westinghouse) Lighting and buying her own home.  In 1972, after dating for a short time, she married Lewis Slaten.  The best thing to come from their marriage was the birth of Lena Christelle Slaten in 1978.  She was a loving, loyal and faithful wife for over twenty years in spite of her difficult situation.  On Kathern’s behalf, we would encourage anyone experiencing domestic abuse, please seek and accept help, to remove yourself and your children from the situation.  You can have a better life.

In Kathern’s mid-40s, she began having mini-strokes, with thinking abilities now limited, she and Lena moved from East End to Little Rock, to live next to Lauri.  At the age of forty-nine, she suffered a major stroke which left her with severe physical limitations and paralysis.  With the help of Hot Springs Rehab she learned to function in a limited capacity, but additional strokes led to her placement in a nursing facility.  Kathern spent the last 20 plus years of her life in a nursing home, primarily at Lonoke Nursing and Rehab Center.  Although she was physically and mentally limited and had trouble communicating, her face would light up every time a family member or an old friend came to visit.  She would chatter away, the best she could.  Until their death, she especially loved the weekly visits of her parents, who would bring her plenty of sweet treats.  And, you were in for a struggle if you even tried to take the occasional Pepsi from her that had been brought in by her girls.  Birthdays were special when her sisters would bring a big birthday cake to share with her friends and staff at the nursing home.  She missed this year’s celebration by nine days.

Kathern is preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by daughters Lauri Z. Hill, of Ward and Lena C. Ferguson (Jeremy) of Arkadelphia; five grandchildren, Stephanie Sheree Pack (Thomas) of Cabot, Heather Nicole Johnson (Matt) of Nashville, Tennessee, Bethany Brooke Hill of Dallas, Texas, Nelson Duane Ferguson of Arkadelphia and Lauren Elizabeth Agnes Ferguson, also of Arkadelphia; one great-grand daughter, Lilah Maebry Pack and a great-grandson, Cade Thomas Pack arriving in December; three sisters, Tee Jay Townsend of Sherwood, Linda Dyson (Charles) of Jacksonville, and Louise Carlisle (Jerry) of Little Rock; seven nieces and nephews; 11 great-nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

We would like to express our greatest appreciation for the staff of Lonoke Nursing and Rehab Center for their excellent care of Kathern over the years.  Not only did they take care of her personal and medical needs, they loved her and became her family.  Words cannot express our appreciation for the care and consideration they gave to her and us during her final days.

Visitation will be at 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 14, 2020 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, with a Funeral Service beginning at 2:00 PM.

State of AR COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required.  Maintain social distancing.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170 .