Harriett Sloan

1919 - 2016

Harriett Stech Sloan

Medford, OR

Harriett (Hattie) Stech Sloan passed away at the age of 96, in Medford, Oregon, on February 12, 2016. Born to Lela McCrum Stech and Harley Stech on August 28, 1919, in Huntington County, Indiana, Hattie attended Milwaukee Downer Women's College and graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1942. While in nursing school, she met medical student, Robert (Bob) Dye Sloan, who later became her husband.

From 1942 until 1945, Hattie served as a member of the Army Nurse Corps in the European Theater with the 30th General Hospital. She and the other nurses in her unit waded onto the beach in Normandy on D-Day plus 40 (40 days after D-Day), and their military hospital was in Belgium near the frontlines of the Battle of the Bulge. Hattie was awarded three Bronze Stars during her service. (The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to those serving in the U.S. armed services who "distinguish themselves in heroic or meritorious achievement or service.")

Hattie married Dr. Robert Sloan on March 2, 1946. They lived in Baltimore, Maryland, where Bob was a radiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Here their two children, Catherine (Cathy) and Harriett (Holly), were born.

In the early 1950s, the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, when Bob became the Head Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology at the newly created University of Mississippi Medical Center. Hattie devoted her time to raising their children. She also was an avid bridge player and a member of many clubs and organizations. She served as president of both the local and state chapters of the American Association of University Women and volunteered her nursing skills with Operation Shoestring, a non-profit that serves low-income families in Jackson.

In 1983, Hattie and Bob joined their oldest daughter, Cathy, and her family in Raton, New Mexico, where Hattie and Cathy opened the Heirloom Shop antique store and were in business together for 25 years. Hattie oversaw the restoration of two historic buildings in downtown Raton and was recognized for her efforts by the governor of New Mexico and the state office of historic preservation.

In 2010, Hattie and Bob relocated to Medford, Oregon, where they lived at Horton Plaza. After 67 years of marriage, Bob passed away in 2013.

Hattie is survived by her daughter, Holly Sloan, of Blue Ridge, Georgia, and daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Hugh Naylor, MD, of Eagle Point, Oregon. She leaves four grandchildren, Hugh (Ned) Naylor of Beirut, Lebanon, Holly Naylor of Washington, DC, Katie Dignan of Pensacola, Florida, and Sloan Dignan of Blue Ridge, Georgia; and two great-grandchildren.

Hattie is buried next to Bob at the National Cemetery in Eagle Point, Oregon. Donations in Hattie's name can be made to the Maslow Project in Medford, Oregon. (www.maslowproject.org).