Ronald L. Sliter died peacefully at Countryside Healthcare on May 24, 2017 in Palm Harbor, Florida at the age of 73.
Ronald is survived by his brothers, Randy Sliter and Rich Sliter and by his stepson Jeffrey Jones and granddaughter, Zoie.
Ronald was born on September 24th, 1943 in Lowville, New York to Frances and Hulda Sliter. He graduated from General Martin Central School in 1961, and later married Mary Hess of Henderson, New York, his high school sweetheart. They eventually divorced, and in 1981 he married Sheila Jones of Hopkinton Mass, whose son Jeffrey served as Ron’s best man.
Ron worked as a machinist and quality control engineer in a variety of industries, gaining the nickname “Mr. Micrometer.” He was also a licensed contractor in the Boston, Mass. area where he constructed many fine custom homes.
Ron’s real first love was music. He primarily played the guitar, but also banjo, violin, dobro and steel guitar, and could fill in on keyboards and even trumpet, bass and drums. He played professionally from the age of 16, having performed as a small boy with his father, Francis, also a talented musician.
Ron and his younger brothers played together professionally for many years, sharing one mind in their performances and in the beauty and excellence of their harmonies. Their most well-known bands included Mike White and The Sliter Brothers, and The Uptown Country Band who were members of the Wheeling Jamboree and Jamboree in the Hills, fronting for many famous country and western performers. Later they formed The Sliter Brothers band, then Slyter, touring New England and the East Coast as well as parts of the west and Texas.
They competed in the International Battle of The Bands, winning a recording award in Nashville, Tennessee, where they also appeared at some of Nashville’s busiest clubs.
Ron had an exceptional sense of humor, often playing harmless pranks and laughing until the tears filled his eyes, especially when the joke was on him! He was an excellent husband, brother, stepfather and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A reception is scheduled for Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Sylvan Abbey United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 2817 Sunset Point Rd. Clearwater, FL 33759 from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Committal service will be at 2:00 - 2:30 PM. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ron’s life. A memorial webpage has been created for Ronald Sliter and can be located by searching “obituaries” at Dignitymemorial.com