Stephen Kent Slate, aged 70, passed away on September 10, 2026, in Norman, OK. He was born in Norman on December 12, 1955, but raised and attended elementary, junior high and high school in Comanche, OK.

A Celebration of Life and Memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Unity Baptist Church, 1725 Chisholm Drive, Duncan, OK, with a reception following. Arrangements have been entrusted to Tribute Memorial Care of Norman, OK. He will be interred at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche, OK.

Stephen was a 1974 graduate of Comanche High School, Comanche, OK. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation and attended Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. He completed advanced training with the 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Keesler, Mississippi and was assigned to Iraklion Air Base on the Island of Crete, in the Mediterranean Sea from 1975-1977 where he served in telecommunications and electronic warfare. While in the Air Force Stephen learned the Greek language, traveled around Europe and was very active in intramural athletics. He returned to the continental United States in 1977 where he was stationed at Medina Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, until 1978. It was while he was stationed in San Antonio, that he met his wife Jan. They married in the fall of 1978 in Duncan, OK. Two children were born to this marriage, Andrea and Jared. Jan preceded him in death.

Upon completion of his service obligation Stephen enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology in May of 1984. He remained in Norman, OK, upon completion of his education. Stephen worked as a mud-logger and geologist across Oklahoma and West Texas. He retired from the oil and gas industry in 2020.

Stephen possessed quick wit, was funny and enjoyed bantering back and forth with family and close friends. He was open to various genres of music and enjoyed introducing friends and members of his family to new artists. For example, in the 1970’s he discovered the relatively new artists Jimmy Buffet, Kris Kristoffersen, John Prine, and Bonnie Rait and to be sure, there were others. Stepen was also an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan and followed OU football, basketball, baseball, softball. Once retired, he spent time gardening, fishing and spending time with 3 generations of his family.

At the time of his death, Stephen had remarried and is survived by his wife Debbie Thomas of Norman, OK, daughter, Andrea, of Seattle, Washington, son, Jared of Oklahoma City, and grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Christoper and Elliot and numerous cousins and extended family. Stephen had two siblings alive at the time of his death, a brother Dr. Dennis Slate and wife Denise of Conroe, TX; and a sister Dana Brown and husband Kenny Brown, of Georgetown, TX. Stephen was preceded in death by his brother, Richard L. Slate of California, and his parents, Ralph L. Slate, and Janice L Slate of Duncan, OK.