Marta Dean Morris Slais

Marta Dean Morris Slais was born in Kansas May 14, 1929. A Taurean by nature, she certainly loved tending to her household, making a beautiful and comfortable home wherever she lived.

Music delighted her and she learned to play the guitar and play the recorder. She loved to sing and while still in Topeka belonged to a choir comprised of women correctional inmates and community members. She named the choir Voices Veritas and was most disappointed when it dissolved.

She was an avid reader, and if not otherwise occupied could be found with her nose in a book. She had all of her kids reading before they ever made it to kindergarten. Once a week she would walk to the Topeka Public Library with her kids, all returning home with a big stack of books. In later years she was a dedicated volunteer at the library.

She just loved her Siamese cats, who shared her life one or two at a time. They were Gato, Blue, Sweetie, Mousie, Cordie and John.


Most of her life was spent in Topeka. She and her husband raised three children. She worked many years as a secretary. She enjoyed learning how to weave and made many beautiful wall hangings and shawls. She was a member of the Unitarians, and the fellowship in Topeka was very important to her.


Her parents were Ethel Mae and Harold Eugene Morris, and they lie beneath the prairie in a little country cemetery outside of Topeka. Nearby lies her son, Wellington Eugene 'Gene' Slais, who died in 1986, she was so proud of his accomplishments as a news producer at KCMO in Kansas City. Her husband, Raymond Slais passed away in 1991, as a result of a motorcycle accident. Her son Harold R. 'Skip' Slais resides in Fernandina Beach, FL.


In 2011 Marta moved to Missoula to be closer to her daughter Lise R Slais Smith and family. Her apartment at Silvercrest was just right for her and her little kitty John. She enjoyed interacting with her nieghbors, and often said "this is a good place for me to live" . People would frequently stop by her window to say hello and talk to the cat. The highlight of her week was going out to get coffee and a treat on Saturday mornings with her daughter and good friend Kaye Norris. Cafe Dolce, Rosauers and Walmart were favorite destinations. She would say of Wal-mart, "They have everything here!" (they do).
She was blessed to have been able to be independent right up until the end.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we thank the kind staff at Community Medical Center who helped us as she passed away on July 23, 2015 .


There will be a memorial service at Silvercrest on Thursday July 30th at 1pm.


Read Marta Slais's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.