Mary Ellen Louise Sloan

January 14, 1944 - November 11, 2017

Mary Ellen Louise Sloan — a life-long companion of dogs — crossed the Rainbow Bridge on​ ​November 11, 2017 while at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after a prolonged illness. She was 73. The youngest of four, “Mary Ellen” was born in Canton, Ohio on January 14, 1944. Her parents were Babetta Caroline Henderson (née Steele) and Merrick Jay “MJ” Sloan. Mary’s mother wrote of her in her Mother’s Diary: “Mary Ellen, you were the slowly closing door on Christmas trees, cookies, shopping trips, Easter eggs, summer vacations, and the last to graduate [McKinley High School — Canton, Ohio]. You were my ‘Culmination.’” Mary was a retired business owner of Square One Pet Grooming in Wetumpka, Alabama. Through a client with a seeing eye dog, she learned about Southeastern Guide Dogs and became a life-long member of the charity. Mary never charged to groom service dogs. Before starting her grooming business, she worked in the printing industry and was a proud union steward at Gill Studios in Lenexa, Kansas. Throughout her life, Mary lived in Canton, OH; Olathe and Edgerton, KS; Reno, NV; Montgomery and Mathews, AL; and Tallahassee, FL. To know Mary was to know her love for dogs ran a (very) close second to her three sons: Steve, Mark, and Jay. Mary cared for many dogs — her own, her friends’, and the many strays who wandered into her life. Mary’s mantra: the more I know about people, the more I love dogs. Mary was happily divorced. It’s in that loving spirit Mary’s family reminisced and spread her ashes on the Southeastern Guide Dogs training campus on November 21, 2017 in Palmetto, Florida so that she may rest and watch over her unconditional companions for eternity. A memorial plaque will be placed on campus for family and friends to visit — with their puppies. Mary’s survived by her children: Steve G. Robison, Mark B. Robison (Lance Corporal, USMC), and John Jay Boda, (Master Sergeant, USAF, Retired) — also by, Mark’s wife, Lorene, Jay’s partner, Pedro and her six wonderful grandchildren: Michael and Tristan Robison (Steve) and River, Vincent Fernandez, Genevieve and Marshall Robison (Mark). Leslie Nelson-Ledbetter worked with Mary at Square One and quickly became the daughter Mary never had. Her sister, Elsie Miller (née Sloan), also survives Mary as does her brother-in-law, Richard Totten. Mary shared her heart and home with one dog when she passed — her beloved, Indie. She had two grand-dogs: Spike (Mark) and Guinness (Jay). Mary’s preceded by both of her parents, two of her siblings, Carolyn Totten (née Sloan) and Roy Sloan, as well as her brother-in-law, William “Bill” Miller. She’s also preceded by several “miracles with paws” who loved Mary unconditionally: David, Elmo, Bogie, Bud, Holly, Butterbean, Cocoa, and Tinker (Mathews, AL); Thunder, Meryl, Buckwheat, and JoJo (Edgerton, KS); Hambone, Sadie, and Promise (Olathe, KS); and Pepper (Canton, OH). Please consider a donation to Southeastern Guide Dogs in memory of “Mary Ellen Sloan.” ONLINE: https://www.guidedogs.org/support-us/donate/ (select Dedicate my donation); MAIL: Southeastern Guide Dogs, 4210 77th Street East, Palmetto, FL 34221; or PHONE: 941-845-1871- Leisa Lewis, Senior Finance Specialist. Mary had these words hung on her living room wall: It came to me that every time I lose a dog, They take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog that comes into my life, Gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, All the components of my heart​ w​ill become dog And I will become​ ​as generous and loving as they are. ~ Anonymous