Obituary: Emma Nevada (Berger) Slade

February 21, 1910 - March 8, 2011

Emma Nevada (Berger) Slade passed away peacefully shortly after her 101st birthday in Carson City. Emma was born Feb. 21, 1910, to Joseph and Parnie Berger at the Water Master's house on Lakeview Hill. Most of her life was spent in Carson City. She was a 1928 graduate of Carson High School.

She worked in the county clerk's office and as a stenographer for Nevada Governor E.P. Carville.

She married Francis Slade on April 1, 1945. Together they ran the Dutch Mill Restaurant on Carson Street for many years. After they sold the Dutch Mill, she went to work for the State of Nevada Motor Vehicle Registration Division until retirement in 1971.

She loved to hunt, fish and travel with Francis. She was a top women's bowler in the Carson City leagues. In her younger years she was a champion tennis player. She even played with a young Paul Laxalt.

She was preceded in death by her husband Francis; daughter Barbara Hawley; brothers Harold, Frank, George and Clarence Berger; and sisters Zelpha Potter and Gladys Kramer.

She is survived by her son A.E. "Bud" Miller of Reno; son-in-law Joseph Hawley of Carson City; and sister-in-law of 69 years, Martha "Betty" Berger of Carson City; grandson Al Hawley (Jill) of Dayton; granddaughters Lu Hawley of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Jan Leonard (Pete) of Carson City, and Deborah Plaza (Ed) of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandchildren Shari Peterman (Ed), Ben Leonard (Shasta), Laura Leonard (Sean), Zachary Hawley, Matthew Hawley, Stacy Dawson (Tim), Kimberly Ash (Tony), and Kathleen Ash (Calvin); great-great-grandchildren Brennan, Hawley, and Emalia Peterman, Talisa Lee and Wyatt Dawson. Emma is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to the staff at Mountain Springs Assisted Living where Emma resided the last three years, where she was lovingly taken care of by her "extended" family. We also thank St. Mary's Hospice for their compassionate care for Emma in her last weeks.

A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 at Hilltop Community Church, 3588 Romans Road in south Carson City. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Women's Auxiliary, c/o LaNora Clyde, P.O. Box 875, Carson City, NV 89702. Arrangements entrusted to Walton's Chapel of the Valley, Carson City.