Philip Sloan

Philip E. Sloan, a retired accountant, was diagnosed in mid-April with lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain. He died at his home on Sunday, June 10, 2012 surrounded by his family, holding his wifes hand. To honor his request, there will be no service.Arrangements are being handled by Schnider Funeral Home.Phil was one of six children born to John and Ruth Sloan in Great Falls, MT. They left Great Falls when Phil was a young boy and moved to California. There he attended Sacramento State University and studied business-finance until he enlisted in the US Army where he served most of his time stationed in Germany. Upon his return to MT, he was hired by Fuller-Webb Missiles, met and married his wife of over 50 years, Jean Frances Cox.He worked as a metallurgical accountant for Anaconda Company in Great Falls until it closed and completed his career at various businesses in the accounting departments until he retired.Phil had many interests and enjoyed sharing life with many. His passion was family and most importantly his wife Jean who was his Queen. In his younger years Phil was always active and involved with his kids, coaching little league and softball, attending all the school activities. Their home was a neighborhood gathering spot, and often he would sit outside watering the lawn to keep an eye on kids while they played late into the evening. He loved to garden, had a true green thumb, raising beautiful roses, and canned many of the fruits and vegetables of his labor.He was a great cook. His specialty was the holiday breakfast that all his children and grandchildren loved to partake in.Phil loved to go fishing (Sun River Canyon), played weekly in the pool leagues, golfed until he couldnt walk the course, and of course his favorite was going dancing with his wife, Jean.He liked to visit Reno and Las Vegas, and he loved the challenge of playing poker in the tournaments.He was the best grandfather anyone could ask for. Poppa and Grandma attended nearly every single sports and school event the grandchildren hadbaseball, football, soccer, volleyball gymnastics, and horse shows. Many a basketball was sunk to Can it Willy, Can it Josi.He treasured his hours with his grandchildren, keeping them busy with special projects in his work shop, drawing maps for treasure hunts, taking them to ponds to find tadpoles, making them his special no sun sun tea and roasting marshmallows by candlelight. All the while, he could still tell you the score and action of the sports game he watched. Board games after family dinners were competitive, but often he was the winner of Masterpiece and Monopoly. One of the grandkids wrote Growing up I always thought my Poppa was some kind of magical being. From his special way with plants and people, no person or thing could respond negatively to his presence. As we grew older, the belief he was partially magical faded away and in its place grew the knowledge that our Poppa was a very special and rare person. He possessed an inner light of such immeasurable goodness that no one could stand by his side and not be warmed by its glow. It was a blessing to have known and loved this cheerful, insightful, quiet man and we will carry the lessons we learned from him where ever we will go. He is survived by his beloved wife Jean of Great Falls; children Debra Sloan-Eve (Bob Trujillo) of Great Falls, Doug Sloan of Great Falls, Renata Sloan-Hendricks (Larry) of Las Vegas, grandchildrenTheresa (Daniel) Urband of NY, Grant Willy (Mercede) Eve of Great Falls, KatiEve of Billings, Cassidy Kline of Great Falls, Kalli Klineof Alaska, great grandchild Mikah Eve of Great Falls; his sisters Rosemary(Charles) Jacoby of Helena, Margaret (Jess) Poor of Helena, Betty Hasty of Alabama, and Judy Kirschel of California.He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruth Sloan, his brother John and his granddaughter Josi Eve.In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to River's Edge Trail, P.O. Box 553, Great Falls, 59403 with either a note or mention on the check that it is a memorial gift for Phil Sloan or to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405. He will be missed more than words can express and remain in our hearts forever.