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Phyllis Rochelle Slaton was born November 9, 1961 to Harry and Lillian Slaton in Merced, California. She loved learning, teaching, spending time with her family, shopping and most of all worshipping the Lord. She departed this life, after a year-long battle with leukemia, on December 27, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. Her joyful spirit and welcoming hugs will be missed. Rochelle was a gifted student and earned All-District titles in track and field during her high school reign at Merced High in Merced, CA. She graduated with the MHS class of 1979 and attended Merced Community College. In October of 1987, she married Master Sgt. Chris McLee while stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, CA and spent the next 21 years living at air force bases in Hahn, Germany; Aviano, Italy; Mountain Home, Idaho and San Antonio, Texas. In October 2005, Rochelle earned her ministerial license from Liberty Christian Ministries. She received her ordination several years later. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from University of the Incarnate Word, with a cum laude designation. As a lifelong learner, she was blessed to see her husband and all three of her daughters earn degrees, in addition to advanced degrees, in her lifetime. During her career, she worked for Lucky’s Supermarket, Pioneer Federal Credit Union, Kraft Foods and Tesoro Corporation. She leaves to mourn in her passing, a loving and devoted husband: Chris Allen McLee; three incredible daughters; Chanell Gomez (Jesse), Christen Lee (Justin), and Ciara McLee, all of San Antonio, TX; Her mother Lillian A. Slaton of Merced, CA; three brothers, Jeffrey Bruce Slaton of Minneapolis, MN, Tyrone Darnell Slaton (Portia) of Elk Grove, CA and Reginald “Scotty” Slaton of Las Vegas, NV; one sister, Lesley Slaton Brown (George) of Morgan Hill, CA; five grandchildren, Kelise and Zaya Gomez, and Josiah, Jayla and Jenae Lee; a host of nieces, nephews and beloved family and friends. Rochelle is preceded in death by her father Harry Bruce Slaton of Merced, CA; paternal grandparents, Walter John and Joyce Veatrice Slaton of Merced, CA; maternal grandparents, Fred Douglas and Nancy “Eloise” Meadows of Merced, CA; an aunt, Michele Kimberly Slaton of Elk Grove, CA and an uncle, Fred Douglass Meadows Jr., of Palmdale, CA. She leaves a strong spiritual legacy of prayer, faith and family unity. Rochelle’s motto for life was laugh often and “Let God be God.”

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Phyllis Rochelle slaton McLee

November 9, 1961 - December 27, 2016