Sarah (Sally) A. Gibbons-Slattery

Sarah (Sally) A. Gibbons-Slattery died peacefully at her home in Tucson on a sunny Saturday afternoon, February 22nd, 2025. Sally's devoted husband, Tom, was at her side. Sally was born October 26, 1951, in Middletown, Ohio, the daughter of Russell and Jeanne Annes.

For twenty-two years Multiple Sclerosis increasingly ruled Sally's life but never her spirit or charming, positive personality. She simply adapted. She found stylish orthopedic shoes (Wolkys) that always drew compliments--of course she had all the colors. Early on she had just enough energy (sic) to make it from one Paris street cafe to the next. Sally found smaller Mediterranean cruise ships that did not require tenders. When travel became too much Sally brought the vacation atmosphere to her with a high-rise condo in downtown San Diego with fabulous views of San Diego Bay and the Coronado Bridge. Sally, from her chair with her iPad, kept up with the world and became proficient at planning visits to her for anyone who wanted to come. She also kept Amazon in business.

Sally attended Rollins College and graduated from Southern Methodist University. She taught in the Dallas elementary school system for one semester before recognizing her true calling, the hospitality industry. Sally started as a sale representative for a cruise line (driving her boss in her yellow Datsun B210 from Dallas to Oklahoma). Sally then migrated to the hotel industry, starting in sales and rising to several director of sales and/or marketing positions (Loews Ventana Canyon, Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, Loews Anatole Hotel, and Caesars Palace). She held prominent positions in the professional organizations PCMA and MPI.

Sally worked at several hotels but none could compare to her "glory days" at the Loews Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Twenty-five years after leaving Loews Sally was still having pleasant dreams about working there. The atmosphere of that work environment, the people she worked with and the friendships she made created pleasant memories for Sally for the rest of her life.

Sally, in 2000, traded her life in hotel convention sales (and her sporty red Acura Legend coupe) for five years of living across the street from her aging parents in Middletown, Ohio (and driving her beloved Subaru Forester).

Sally and Tom spent three summers in Anchorage, Alaska, where Tom was based. Every day Sally would poke fun at the Anchorage Daily New's front page "Nice Catch" photo of fishermen with their fish. One day she said she wanted to go fishing. Tom asked her why and Sally replied, "well today's Nice Catch was a woman with nice hair, good makeup, and jewelry. I want to get my picture in the paper." One week later she was pictured on the front page.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/atq4nak0pfcqtkolhw90v/BE2A3DE49A79340B.pdf?rlkey=kdt1hirt739u1xg6zo9vgtmgj&st=saf1blmy&dl=0

That was Sally's second happiest moment that summer, her first was when she got her airline ticket back to Tucson.

When Sally married Tom, she introduced the Slattery sisters to a world beyond their Iowa farm roots. She was a classy lady, and despite Slattery wedding shenanigans, she was always gracious, generous, and welcoming. She enriched the annual family reunions by moving them from backyard tents to the Michigan lakeshore. With every reunion, every shared sunset, every Bud Light, and Daily Jumble (which she always finished first) she will be dearly remembered and missed. (Also remembered is her first visit to the farm where she showed up in bib overalls, work boots and leather gloves (the working kind).)

Sally's vivid personality, kind heart and warm smile endeared her to all. She was the same, regardless of whether you were friend, family, fellow worker, masseuse, physical therapist, or care-giver. One of her nieces, upon remembering Sally, noted that she never lost her sense of humor or style. Her hotel "twin", Tracy Arnn, was a long-time Tucson friend whose many afternoon visits offered great comfort to Sally.

Sally is survived by Thomas (Tom) Slattery, her husband of thirty years, one sister, Martha Hill, five sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and eighteen nieces and nephews (who thought Sally the coolest person they knew--well, she was blond). Sally was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Anthony (Tony) Anness.

Sally was remembered with a private Mass.

Charitable donations in Sally's name may be made to Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona:
https://www.ccs-soaz.org/donate/form