Obituary for Jo Ann Sloan
Jo Ann Raulerson Sloan was a lady, and a lady always knows when it’s time to leave. Jo Ann, age 90, made her graceful exit from this world on December 22, 2020 at Grandview Manor in Franklin, NC.
Jo Ann was born in Ft. Pierce, FL on July 22, 1930. She was a third generation native Floridan born to Alfred Keightley and Mae Pierce Raulerson. After her father’s untimely death when she was 8, she was raised by her fraternal grandparents, State Senator Frank and Louise (Mother Lou) Raulerson. The Raulersons were among the early settlers of south Florida and operated a large cattle ranch, Cow Creek.
Jo Ann attended Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, in the late 1940s. In 1952, she married Thomas Leighton Sloan (deceased 1995). Jo Ann traveled extensively around the world. Some of her most favorite trips were to Holland to visit the large tulip farms, to China to see the Great Wall, and to England, Scotland and Israel. Her traveling companion was her dear friend, Sally Wright. Other close friends were her mother in-law, Catherine (Honey) Sloan, Sam and June (Nunnie) Urso, Katie Enns (her birthday twin), and the artist Edna Hibel. Her Tellico family/friends were Mike Macke, Joe Youdel, Mary Lee McMullan, and Dion and Cathy Sena.
Jo Ann was an avid squirrel hunter; she hunted with a .22 rifle and almost always shot them in the head. She enjoyed bird watching, cooking for her family and friends and her beloved German Shepard, Gunner.
In 1970, the Sloans moved to the Tellico Valley in Macon County, North Carolina. Jo Ann loved the Tellico Valley. She graciously welcomed everyone who came to see the great oak tree on the farm and visit the “big house”. They began the Tellico Trout Farm in the mid-eighties, which they operated until the farm sold in 1995.
Jo Ann is survived by her two daughters, Kathryn Blanton and Debra Sloan; four granddaughters, Alexis Bell, Tara Breeden (Ronnie), Myrna Summerlin, and Grace Summerlin; ten great grandchildren, Erika Moses (Jordan), Cheyanna Bell, Shalya Wisman, (Adam), Lathea Watts, Mariah Watts, Ava Breeden, Kaija Graves, Tristan Graves, Kyler Summerlin, and Addison Summerlin; eight great-great grandchildren, Keily Moses, Kadan Moses, Kaylen Moses, Kason O’Neal, Keightly Moses, Emma Tyte, Andrew Wiseman, and Roman Wisman.
Jo Ann will be dearly missed by her family and friends who were blessed to have had her in their lives.
Jo Ann was born in Ft. Pierce, FL on July 22, 1930. She was a third generation native Floridan born to Alfred Keightley and Mae Pierce Raulerson. After her father’s untimely death when she was 8, she was raised by her fraternal grandparents, State Senator Frank and Louise (Mother Lou) Raulerson. The Raulersons were among the early settlers of south Florida and operated a large cattle ranch, Cow Creek.
Jo Ann attended Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, in the late 1940s. In 1952, she married Thomas Leighton Sloan (deceased 1995). Jo Ann traveled extensively around the world. Some of her most favorite trips were to Holland to visit the large tulip farms, to China to see the Great Wall, and to England, Scotland and Israel. Her traveling companion was her dear friend, Sally Wright. Other close friends were her mother in-law, Catherine (Honey) Sloan, Sam and June (Nunnie) Urso, Katie Enns (her birthday twin), and the artist Edna Hibel. Her Tellico family/friends were Mike Macke, Joe Youdel, Mary Lee McMullan, and Dion and Cathy Sena.
Jo Ann was an avid squirrel hunter; she hunted with a .22 rifle and almost always shot them in the head. She enjoyed bird watching, cooking for her family and friends and her beloved German Shepard, Gunner.
In 1970, the Sloans moved to the Tellico Valley in Macon County, North Carolina. Jo Ann loved the Tellico Valley. She graciously welcomed everyone who came to see the great oak tree on the farm and visit the “big house”. They began the Tellico Trout Farm in the mid-eighties, which they operated until the farm sold in 1995.
Jo Ann is survived by her two daughters, Kathryn Blanton and Debra Sloan; four granddaughters, Alexis Bell, Tara Breeden (Ronnie), Myrna Summerlin, and Grace Summerlin; ten great grandchildren, Erika Moses (Jordan), Cheyanna Bell, Shalya Wisman, (Adam), Lathea Watts, Mariah Watts, Ava Breeden, Kaija Graves, Tristan Graves, Kyler Summerlin, and Addison Summerlin; eight great-great grandchildren, Keily Moses, Kadan Moses, Kaylen Moses, Kason O’Neal, Keightly Moses, Emma Tyte, Andrew Wiseman, and Roman Wisman.
Jo Ann will be dearly missed by her family and friends who were blessed to have had her in their lives.