Delores Marion Sloan, our dearest mother, passed away peacefully early Easter morning, April 9, 2023, as the sun started to rise – she went to her heavenly home above.
She was born in Fort Yukon, Alaska, the 15th child to James Albert Carroll and Fannie Martin Carroll. Beginning at a very young age, she played on a regular basis in her mother’s bead box where she would separate the vibrant bead colors, which likely inspired her to become the lifetime Athabascan Artistry, which includes skin sewing, traditional parka making and most passionately, beading.
As a young lady, Delores met and married Tony Paul Smaker in 1956. The young couple relocated and welcomed two children, daughter, Brenda Carol Lee (Mark Lamoureux) and a son, Clifton Douglas Lee Smaker.
After they divorced, Delores moved home to Fort Yukon with her two young children. Some of her early jobs including owning and operating a café and then working at the 709 AC&W Squadron Air Force site in the kitchen with several of her cousins. She also was a cook at the Sourdough Inn for many years.
Raising her children in Fort Yukon, the need grew for her to sew parkas, boots and slippers for them to stay warm. Living in a remote village did require self-sufficiency. During the long cold winters Delores’ creativity flourished and her passion for beading grew and grew.
Delores had found love once again, in 1967, she married David Spain Sloan, as he became her greatest supporter. They were blessed to share over 46 years of marriage. They both enjoyed, traveling in their camper and loved going into Canada where they would visit with many friends and relatives. They also enjoyed their time in the summers up at their cabin in Central where they spent time with their grandchildren, Vincent David and Alyssa.
Meanwhile Delores continued to be inspired to bead. She began submitting her beadwork at the Tanana Valley Fair and won several years of Grand Champion prizes for her Athabascan beadwork. To this day, the beadwork competition has grown into one of the most popular attractions at the Tanana Valley Fair. Dave provided constant encouragement for all of her beading projects.
One of the highlights of Delores’ career was that she was selected to represent Alaska Natives in the receiving line of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul ll and President Ronald Reagan’s visit to Fairbanks in May 1984 , here she had the honor to present a beaded vested stole to His Holiness and placed it around his neck. The beaded stole still resides in the Vatican today. Later she would excitedly say, “I don’t think I’ll ever wash my hands again,” after all – I just touched the POPE!
Throughout her beading career, she taught beadwork to Fairbanks North Star Borough students and also University of Alaska students. Delores especially enjoyed her famous Baby Belt classes at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage where she met many dear new friends. In addition to that she taught for many years on cruise ships for the Alaska Native Heritage Center sharing her Athabascan beadwork with tourists. In her career of beading she completed 30 baby belts. Probably most recognized is the “Forget Me Not” baby belt which is framed and on display at the Ted Stevens International Airport. Many of Delores Sloan’s baby belt art pieces grace the walls of various Alaska Native corporations, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, the state Capitol, the new addition of the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center clinic and many private collections throughout Alaska.
Delores would attend the annual Native arts and crafts shows during the annual AFN and TCC conventions, and the Doyon Christmas bazaar, where she would have a table where she enjoyed connecting with other artists and friends. Beading was her passion! Her unique style is recognized and loved by many; we believe that her legacy as an amazing Athabascan beader should inspire others to sew and find their creativity! Her charisma and ability to teach caused her to be a natural mentor to her many nieces and dear friends where she loved having them come visit so they could sew together. She would share little treasured kits of beads as this our traditional way to encourage the future generations to continue with this beautiful art.
Delores Marion Sloan is survived by her daughter, Brenda Carol Lee (Mark Lamoureux), and son, Clifton Douglas Lee Smaker; grandson, Vinent David Lamoureux; granddaughter, Alyssa Marcott (Brandon Marcott); and great-grandson Beckett James. She leaves a legacy of being a great auntie, cousin, sister and friend to all, of which there are so many because Delores never met a stranger, and we will all feel her void in our lives, but are encouraged knowing that we have Heaven as our hope. We will see her again one day! Meanwhile, our mom, Delores is probably oohing and ahhhing over all the beautiful flowers in heaven.
