Florence May Sloan passed away on the morning of April 12, 2022, with her granddaughter, Gina Ritchie by her side, at Highland Manor in Fallon, Nevada. She was just a month shy of being 102 years old.
Florence was born on May 11, 1920, in Farmington, New Mexico to Herman and Mable Hellekson. She had seven siblings, Bill, Herman, Vernon, John, Ted, Bobby, Marge, and Laura.
Florence moved to Fallon when she was nine years old where she attended 3rd through 12th grade. She met her husband, James, when she was 18 and they were married on January 24, 1938. Together they had two children, James “Jim” F. Sloan in 1938 and Janice Kay (Sloan) Curtis in 1944.
With her husband’s encouragement, Florence enrolled in one of the first nursing programs offered in the State of Nevada. She received her nursing certificate and was a nurse in Fallon for 14 years. Florence also helped James on their family ranch, where they ran cattle, raised their family, and put down roots for generations to come.
Florence lived out at the ranch for 56 years and continued to run it after her husband James passed away in 1978. In 1994, she moved into the City where she lived on her own in the same house for 25 years, before moving into Highland Manor in 2019. Her son Jim still continues to take care of the family ranch she loved so dearly.
Florence is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Mable Hellekson; her siblings, Bill, Herman, Vernon, John, Ted, Bobby, Marge, and Laura; her husband James Sloan; and her son-in-law Howard Curtis.
She is survived by her son Jim Sloan and daughter Janice Curtis; Grandchildren, Andrea (James) Rossman-Stagnaro, Jason (Lia) Sloan, Mike (Sandi) Curtis, Gina (Jeff) Ritchie, Shawn (Heather) Curtis. Great-grandchildren, Jacob Curtis, Brittani (David) Shue, Taylor (Kaitlin) Ritchie, Kendra (Keith) Merrick, Kirsten Ritchie, Sloan Curtis, Hunter Curtis and Chase Curtis. Her great-great-grandchildren, Harper Ritchie, Kinsley Merrick, Daxton Ritchie, Declan Curtis and Sterling Curtis; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Florence was a member of Artemisia Club, and was also a member of the Old River Women’s Club and the Farm Bureau. She always enjoyed entertaining her family at her house for the holidays, hosting parties for the Artemisia Club, and a good game of Bunco. Florence loved baking - her cookies and popcorn balls were unmatched. She had amazing seamstress skills and also loved to crochet blankets. She enjoyed working in her garden and tending to her flowers. She liked taking her grandkids on walks with her dog Chevis and going to the lake with her family. She loved the holidays but especially loved Halloween. She was known for dressing up as a witch to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters and pose for pictures with her grandchildren. She also loved Christmas and adored it when her grandchildren would come to help her decorate her home and bake with her. Florence was always one to send thank you cards and never missed a birthday. Her family’s most beloved “Gramm tradition” was the birthday phone call they would get from her every year.
Florence exemplified an unwavering love for her family and friends. She was an exceptional woman and a remarkable mother and grandmother who gave her life to her kids and grandkids. She was the most wonderful combination of warmth, kindness, laughter, and love. She valued the importance of family, and up until the day she passed away, she enjoyed spending as much time as she could with them. She loved nothing more than to be surrounded by family and friends. Florence has left an incredible legacy behind. She was a woman to be admired. A woman who taught her family how to live and how to love. Florence’s family will miss her dearly but are in awe of the very long life she lived and the years they were blessed with her.
Though her smile is gone, her hands can no longer be held, and her voice can no longer be heard, her family still has memories of her they will carry with them for a lifetime. They may have said goodbye to Florence’s physical body, but her spirit will always be with them. She will be the warmth of the sun, the whistle in the wind, and the coolness in the rain.
“You’ll see her in the clouds above, hear her whisper words of love, you’ll be together before long until then listen for her song.” –Christy Ann Martine
A viewing will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 20, 2022, at The Gardens Funeral Home, 2949 Austin Highway, Fallon, Nevada, followed by a graveside service at 1 p.m. at the Churchill County Cemetery, Cemetery Road Fallon, Nevada.
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