Katie Slaton, Cousin of 1000-Lb. Sisters Stars Tammy and Amy, Passes Away at 37 Following Cancer Battle
Katie Slaton, cousin of 1000-Lb. Sisters stars Tammy and Amy Slaton, has died at the age of 37 after a courageous battle with stage 4 cancer, The U.S. Sun confirmed.
The news was shared on Tuesday morning by Amanda Halterman — Tammy and Amy’s sister — who posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, saying she was announcing it “with a completely shattered heart and spirit.”
Amanda also posted a photo of herself holding Katie’s cousin’s baby, writing, “My little cousin went to rest at the feet of Jesus yesterday.” She described Katie as “a force to be reckoned with, someone who gave love openly and unconditionally. She lit up every room she walked into and was not only the life of the party, but also my best friend.”
As of now, Tammy, 39, and Amy, 37, have not publicly commented on their cousin’s passing, though both showed their support during Katie’s cancer battle.
Katie is survived by her longtime partner, Natalie Gerrick Bailie. The couple lived together in Kentucky, where the Slaton family is originally from.
Courageous Fight Against Cancer
Katie was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer earlier this year, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a friend. She began chemotherapy in January, which initially showed promising results.
On February 19, Natalie shared on Facebook, “We are so grateful that her symptoms have started to improve… Both our families have been incredible throughout this entire journey. We couldn’t have made it this far without you. Thank you to everyone for the prayers and support! #Katiestrong.”
Sadly, Katie’s health began to decline in recent weeks. On August 25, Amanda posted an update asking for continued prayers: “Please lift up a prayer for our family as we stand by Katie Slaton. I’m so grateful to be by your side through this fight.”
Heartbreak Within the Family
The loss of Katie comes just a year after the family mourned another tragedy. Tammy’s husband, Caleb Willingham, passed away in July 2023 at the age of 40 due to complications from morbid obesity.
Though Tammy and Caleb had quietly separated just months before his death, Tammy paid tribute to him with an emotional post: “Rest in peace, sweet angel. You will forever be missed and loved so deeply. Thank you, Caleb, for showing me true love and happiness.”
Katie will be remembered for her bright spirit, her devotion to her loved ones, and the joy she brought to those around her.
