Norma Dene Sloan

Norma Dene (Willis) Sloan, 92, of Albuquerque, NM, passed away July 16, 2019, with family by her side.  She was born to Florence and Parley Willis on September 23, 1926 in Mesa, Arizona.  From her own record, her childhood was “happy and carefree,” with weekly, extended-family get-togethers.  Her parents were musically inclined, and she also gravitated toward a love of music, taking violin lessons from an early age.  She attended high school in Globe, Arizona, where she participated in girl’s glee club, orchestra (violin), band (trombone), and acapella choir.  She continued to develop her proficiency in music and was invited to play the violin at many church and community functions.  Starting in High School, she was assigned to be a church chorister, which led to greater involvement in participating in and organizing singing groups.

Her father died when she was 18, which forced her to enter the workforce to support the family.  Utilizing skills in shorthand and typing, learned in high school, she first worked for the State Social Security and Welfare Office in Globe, and then for another 8 years at City Hall in Mesa, Arizona.  She married George G. Sloan on January 4, 1950 in the Mesa-Arizona temple.  

She was the mother of five children, four boys and one girl, and was a loving, and caring mother, and wife.  Her children remember her many sacrifices of time and energy for them, including staying up all night typing their term papers on a manual typewriter.  She would get up very early and drive her children to early-morning religion classes before High School classes started.  She tried diligently to inculcate musical ability in her children through years of piano lessons and choir rehearsals, with only partial success.  She had a wonderful, fun sense of humor which she maintained throughout her lifetime.  She had a keen and dry wit that would leave people in stitches. She was a loving and caring friend to those around her and was always able to seek out and find the good in others.  Norma loved being around her family.  She was a wonderful cook, and her children and grandchildren always looked forward to eating her home-baked pies, breads and main dishes.  She loved to cook with her husband, and they often laughed and joked as they tried to perfect each other’s recipes.  Norma loved to whistle and to sing with her grandchildren; she taught them little children’s songs that they have passed on to their own children.  

She was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life, and held numerous church positions, one of which was the responsibility for the congregational service music, along with organizing and directing local church choirs.  She was an avid genealogist.  When her husband retired they served several missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Mexico City Temple, Dominican Republic, Puebla-Mexico, Atlanta-GA Temple, Lima-Peru Temple, and finally in the Albuquerque-NM Temple, many of which required that she learn Spanish.  

She is survived by her husband George, her children Daniel Sloan (wife Amy) of Oak Ridge, TN; David Sloan (wife Trisha) of Manchester, CT; Irene Jones (husband Eddie) from Colonia Dublan, Mexico; George R. Sloan (wife Gina), and Lynn Sloan (wife Betty), both from Albuquerque, NM; as well as 23 grandchildren, and 46 great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Gwen.

A Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2019 at the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church, 11750 San Victorio NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.  Interment and a brief Graveside Service will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM  87501.

Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010