Hilda Jean Slatton

Hilda Jean Slatton, 81, of Romance, Arkansas, passed away on June 15, 2025, just five days before her 82nd birthday. Born on June 20, 1943, Hilda was a strong-willed, big- hearted woman who loved deeply and lived life on her own terms. She was married to her husband, Eugene Slatton, for 54 years, and together they built a home filled with love, laughter, and a whole lot of personality.

Hilda was fiercely devoted to her family. She is survived by her husband, Eugene Slatton; her children, Sharon Whitehurst (Randall), David Slatton (Danna), Karen Kelley, and Crystal Steele; her sister, Betty Ellis (Bill), and her brother, Buster Hutto. She was a proud grandmother to Christopher, Jonathon, Haley, Caleb, Ethan, and Evan, and a great-grandmother to ten.

She had a soft spot for animals—especially her outside cats, her poodle Paxton, and her parrot, Petey (whose brief flight to freedom is still a family story). She spent days in the garden, where she enjoyed planting, canning, and tending to her fruit trees. She never hesitated to share her homemade goods with friends and family—it was one of the many ways she showed her love.

Hilda appreciated the simple joys in life—camping at the Buffalo River, family gatherings on the 4th of July, and the occasional trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. She found peace in nature and strength in her faith, which carried her through life’s ups and downs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thomas Hutto and Bitha Maye Hutto; and her siblings, Charlie Kelley, Butch Hutto, Larry Dale Hutto, Shirley Shaw, and Helen Hutto. Their memory stayed close to her heart.

A graveside service will be held at Bee Branch Cemetery in Bee Branch, Arkansas, on June 20, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

The family would like to thank Dr. Stacey Noel for the care and compassion he showed Hilda through the years.

Hilda will be remembered for her strong spirit, her unwavering love for her family, and the many stories she leaves behind. She was one of a kind, and she’ll be missed more than words can say.