Mary Lee Sloan

Mary Lee Sloan, née Gussen, was born on October 11, 1944 to James and Mabel Gussen in San Antonio, Texas. Her parents were farmers, ranchers, and dairymen, so Mary Lee grew up in the country. She attended grade school at Holy Rosary parish schools and proceeded to public high school at Northside High, which later became John Marshall High School. She and her husband-to-be graduated together from John Marshall in 1962. After high school, she went to college at Our Lady of the Lake, graduating in 1966 with a degree in teaching. After graduation Mary Lee greatly enjoyed a tour of Europe, traveling by ship. On her return, she taught at John Jay High School from 1966 to 1969. Mary Lee and her husband, Charles Sloan, were married on June 8, 1968, and in 1969 were blessed with a son, CJ, followed by a daughter, Maureen, in 1976.

After moving the ranching operation south to Dilley in 1981, Mary Lee enjoyed producing and creating ceramics; first as a hobby, then as a business. In 1988 the family moved to Colorado, purchasing 2 ranches there. While in Colorado, Mary Lee renewed her interest in teaching and proceeded to become a professor of business at Colorado Northwest Community College where she taught classes in accounting and basic computing.

In 2009 they had had enough of snow and cold and came home to Texas, setting up a home in Alamo Ranch in San Antonio. Their home is on land previously settled by Mary Lee’s great-great-grandfather, John Hoffmann. Mary Lee was proud the local elementary school was named for him. Over the course of the last 20 years, Mary Lee became passionate about family history and genealogy. She published a book, And The Snake Slept: Culebra: The Hoffmann Story, regarding her family history. She was a contributor to other genealogy books as well as instrumental in establishing elements of Government Canyon State Natural Area. During these years, she also researched and established her own family heritage in groups such as The San Antonio Historical Society, The Medina County Texas Genealogical Society, First Families of Bexar County, and Texas First Families.

In 2012 Mary Lee and Charlie bought another ranch near Bigfoot, Texas where they raised cattle and enjoyed hunting with their family. Mary Lee delighted in spending time with her grandchildren and missed the time she spent line dancing with friends. Mary Lee also loved lunching with her cousins and having fun with her Bunco friends…all people she greatly treasured.

Mary Lee was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mabel Gussen of San Antonio. She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 55 years, Charles D. Sloan; son CJ (Sarah); granddaughters Gale, Talor, Lainey, and Sophia. Daughter Maureen (Gene) Scassa; grandchildren Angelo, Madelyn, Lola, Charlie, and Mia. She will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be at St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church, 6150 Roft Road San Antonio, Texas, 78253 beginning at 10:30 am with a rosary at 11:30 am and a funeral mass at 12:00 pm with interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery at Cordi Marion.