Hope Welch Slater passed away on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010 at the age of 81.

Mrs. Slater was born in Boston, MA, on August 24, 1929, a daughter of the late Charles A. Welch and Ruth Yerxa Welch. She grew up in Marblehead, MA, and Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, MA.

She moved to Landrum, S.C. with her late husband, Allen Bud Slater in 1953, where they raised Angus cattle, Connemara ponies, Labrador retrievers and four children. Together they established Caroland Farms and were instrumental in introducing land conservation in the community.

She was educated at the Wheeler School in Providence, RI, and Bennett Jr. College in Millbrook, NY.

An avid sportswoman, Hope enjoyed, tennis, horseback riding, gunning, skiing, croquet, walking, and particularly enjoyed day sailing in the waters off Edgartown, MA.

She was active with the Tryon Arts Center and helped produce Gilbert and Sullivan performances for several years. She was also a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Chappaquiddick Beach Club, both in Edgartown, MA, and the Mayflower Society. She volunteered at the Landrum Public Library and Therapeutic Riding of Tryon (TROT).

She is survived by her four children, David S. Slater of Tryon, Diana Slater Roy of Needham, MA, Allen D. Slater Jr. and Polly Slater Glover, both of Landrum; her sisters, Ruth Welch and Edith Edo Potter of Edgartown, MA, and her grandchildren, Sarah Slater, Samuel Slater, Christina Slater, Elizabeth Roy, Abigail Roy, Ian Griggs and Hope Griggs.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pacolet Area Conservancy, 850 North Trade Street, Tryon, NC 28782 or Sheriffs Meadow Foundation/Chappy Fund, 57 David Avenue, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, NC 28722.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 at Petty Funeral Home in Landrum on Dec. 29, 2010. The funeral service will be held at Jacksons Grove Church, Landrum, on Dec. 30, 2010 at 10 a.m., conducted by Reverend Mike Bowers, followed by burial in the church cemetery.

Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneralhome.com.

Petty Funeral Home & Crematory, Landrum.