06/11/2026
The Way It Was...
Picture it 2010 - 2012 "ish", I believe it was. I was working at the Marion County Sheriff's Office on midnight shift patrolling the Ocklawaha, Weirsdale, Moss Bluff, Big Scrub and Ocala National Forest area of Southeastern Marion County. Working nights the only place to get a coffee was at the Circle K in Weirsdale or run all the way out County Road 42 into the Lake County and go to the Circle K in Umatilla. For the longest time, If you're way out in the woods late at night there's nothing and nowhere to get a coffee. Then, out on Forest Road 8/SE 182nd Ave Road there is a neighborhood called Moss Bluff Haven and down the dirt road going into the area opened a little "Country Bar" named Hunter's Crossing. Over time I got to meet and know the owners, David Slaughter and Cheryl Slaughter, very nice people BTW. The place was a local hangout during the week. On the weekends it would be busy. Although, I never had any trouble there or even got a call for service there. I would pull up out front, park my patrol car right by the front door and leave my parking lights on, as if to say - Hey, I'm coming inside, please put a pot of coffee on for me. I'd go inside and sure enough Cheryl would have a pot of coffee on for me. I would go behind the bar, get a coffee cup, open the fridge to get cream and visit for a spell. Not knowing the situation, dispatch always freaked out because I was "Checked Out" at a "Bar" by myself. David and Cheryl closed the bar and the last I had seen them was in Belleview before they moved to North Carolina. We had became friends. I just seen where Cheryl had passed away. Sometimes Facebook doesn't keep you connected with everyone and you miss post. Can't believe I missed it for this long. I just felt compelled to take a moment and tell the story of how we'd met and what I thought of her. Rest high on that mountain top, Lady. David, I'm so sorry to see this. She will live within you and will be waiting for you to join her when it's your time...
