Maurice Trent Slusher, 92, of Floyd went
to his heavenly home on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. He was born on April 14, 1927 in Floyd
County, to George Lester and Callie Lillie Weeks Slusher. He was also preceded in death by his sister
Betty Jean Mannon and his son-in-law Seth Wilson.
He was devoted to his wife of sixty-nine
years, Nadine Hale Slusher. Also surviving are his son Richard (Liang) Slusher and
daughter Denise Wilson, granddaughters Sarah Wilson (Travis Johnston) and Katie
Wilson, and great-granddaughters Quinn and Maisie. He also leaves behind his brother Lane
Slusher (Mina) and sister Jane S. Williams as well as a number of nieces,
nephews, and cousins.
Shortly after his graduation from Floyd
High School in 1944, Maurice and three friends enlisted in the Navy. He was assigned to a yard mine sweeper and
served sixteen months (Feb 19, 1945 to July 30, 1946).
When he came home, he worked for the
U.S. Postal Service, beginning in 1947 as a clerk in the Floyd Post
Office. From 1962 to 1988, he worked as
a rural mail carrier, serving 500 households on a ninety-three mile route. He was also elected as State Steward for the
Rural Letter Carriers of Virginia (1975-1988).
As an avid stamp collector he built a collection of post mark covers
from community post offices in Floyd County dating back to the early
1800s. He donated his collection of
postal memorabilia to the Floyd County Historical Society where a postal
display is presented.
Maurice loved baseball and was one of the
original members of the Floyd Blue Sox who played in the Tri-County League
beginning in 1947. He umpired high
school games, coached Little League teams, and followed the game of baseball
all his life. He enjoyed music,
especially bluegrass, and was a familiar face at festivals, fiddlers
conventions, and concerts at the Country Store.
Maurice helped bring County Sales to Floyd and worked to make the
company a success.
Maurice devoted his life to his
community, family, and farm. He and
Nadine had been active members of Falling Branch United Methodist Church since
1958, serving the church in all capacities.
He was a charter member of the Floyd County Historical Society and
freely shared his love and knowledge of county history. He restored, maintained, and documented the
Jacob Slusher and Weeks Cemeteries.
Having grown up tending the farm that had belonged to his
great-great-great grandfather, Maurice also continued farming and gardening on
his own, raising beef cattle and improving his land.
Funeral
services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the
Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Schoeneman officiating. Interment will
follow in the Jacksonville Cemetery with Military Rites by the Floyd VFW Post #
7854 and American Legion Post #127. The family will receive friends from 11:00
a.m. – 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Old Church Gallery, LTD, PO Box
41, Floyd, VA 24091 or to the Floyd Historical Society, 217 North Locust St,
Floyd, VA 24091.
