Dr. Thomas "Tom" Dresden Slatton, Phd

Thomas Dresden Slatton, 84, died peacefully at his home in Amarillo on Monday, June 12, 2023 after an 11 year battle with cancer.  Funeral Services will be 9:00 AM Monday, June 19, 2023 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive, with Pastor Jeff Ponder and Bryan Sickles officiating. The family will receive visitors from 3:00 – 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 18, 2023 at the funeral home.

Tom was born in Cordell, OK on June 30th, 1938 to James Arch and Gladys Slatton. He was the youngest of seven siblings. He attended Dill City, OK High School and graduated in 1957. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1960. He completed his Master’s in Education at Oklahoma University in 1964 and his PHD in Childhood Development from University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1978.

In 1959, Tom fell in love with and married Roslyn Audrey Guthrie in Burns Flat, OK. They were for married 64 years until his death.  His career led them to the cities of Tulsa, OK, Oklahoma City, OK, Denver, CO, Greensboro NC, and Amarillo, TX. She was devoted to him and always was a proud supporter of his work with children. He had a long career in education and early childhood development. He served as a teacher, principal, President of Amarillo Christian School, and CEO of Children’s Learning Centers in Amarillo.

As a Principal in the late 1960’s in Denver, he helped develop the open classroom concept. At that time, a revolutionary idea in education. The school was visited by educators from all over the world. During his tenure at Amarillo Christian School he positively affected many young people’s lives. Often, he was able to see things from the child’s point of view when other adults could not. He was ahead of his time in his ability to relate to children and help them find ways for a good outcome. Later in life, many of his former students talked about how he was able to help them find a way to overcome challenges. He expanded Children’s Learning Centers from a single daycare to an agency that served countless children for many years.

His faith anchored him and he served in many roles in various churches through the years including: deacon, minister, counselor, and advisor for children’s ministries. His love was the bedrock of his family. He was a devoted, engaged, and caring father and grandfather. His family was his first love and only real hobby.  He rarely missed any of his children’s, his grandchildren’s, or his great-grandchildren’s events. He was a gifted encourager and one of his grandchildren said, “If I was half as good as Pa Pa thought I was, I’d really be something”.

He is survived by his wife, Roslyn of Amarillo; his daughter, Cindy and husband Scott Sickles; his son, Monte Slatton and wife Amy of Amarillo; a brother, Monty Slatton and wife Anita of Houston; a sister, Mary Ann Koren of Moore, OK; his adored grandchildren, Jeff Sickles, Bryan Sickles and wife Julie, Lauren Sutter and husband Will, Victoria Slatton and husband Austin Estes, Ashley Sain and husband Rhett, Brett Sickles and wife Hannah, and Tate Slatton. He had five beloved great-grandchildren.