Obituary of Jay Duane Slack

Jay Duane Slack, 59, of Osage Beach, departed this life on November 30, 2022.

Jay grew up at Lake of the Ozarks and attended School of the Osage where he played basketball in high school.  After graduating in 1981, he went on to obtain his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and practiced for 30 years, most recently serving the local community at Hy-Vee.

His daughter, Emma was the light of his life. He loved watching her dance and spending time with her in his favorite place, Pass-a-Grille, Florida, where they played endlessly in the water, looking for shells and small creatures. In true father fashion, he loved to embarrass her and pretend to know the latest hits on the radio. Most importantly, Jay raised his daughter to know Jesus Christ. He was a shoulder she could cry on and an advisor in times of need. They shared a very special bond, and as a young child Emma was attached at the hip or always on her Dad’s knee.

While Emma was the light of his life, his brother Tony was the menace of it. The legend of a dart that Jay threw “accidentally” getting stuck in the back of Tony’s head, was a frequent topic of debate decades later.

Jay enjoyed music and all things fast and furious, including dirtbikes, motorcycles and cars (especially Porsche). He loved sharing his passions with others- he was the first person to try to teach his niece, Bailee, how to drive (well before she was 16), and took his nephew, Skyler, to his first motocross race.

He loved to travel and rode motorcycles all across the country. This year he toured through the southwest with friends and attended the Daytona 500. We only wish his passion for motorsports was matched by his skill, as there were far too many ER visits for Lois’ comfort. She frequently nursed him back to health with her tender care and copious amounts of spritz and chocolate chip cookies.  

His dry humor, easy smile, and adventurous spirit will be sorely missed.  He may no longer walk alongside us in this life, but we take comfort knowing that Jay accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and because of this redemption we will be together in the next.

When peace, like a river attendeth my way

When sorrow like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Jay was predeceased by his father, Bobby Slack. He is survived by his mother, Lois; daughter, Emma and her mother Samantha; brother, Tony, and wife, Renee’; and niece and nephew Bailee and Skyler.

In memory of Jay, we ask that you hold your loved ones a little tighter- make the phone call, take the trip, break bread and share wine together, go for a drive-  and savor this life together.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kids Harbor, as Jay had a soft spot in his heart for children.

Services will be held at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton, MO, on Saturday, December 10.  Visitation will be from 10 am-12 pm and the funeral will follow at 12 pm.  Graveside service will be held at the Macedonia Cemetery in Buffalo, MO.

Jay Duane Slack, 59, of Osage Beach, departed this life on November 30, 2022.