May 4, 1941 — Dec. 6, 2023
Roberta Ann Sleeter Foxley, 82, of Portland peacefully passed away Dec. 6, at her residence, surrounded by her three children.
Roberta was born on May 4, 1941, in Tacoma, Washington, to Robert W. Sleeter and Pearl E. (Fawcett) Sleeter. Her early years were spent in California while her father was on active duty in the South Pacific as a doctor during World War II. After he returned home from the war, they settled in east Medford, where Roberta spent the rest of her childhood before graduating from Medford High School in 1959.
Roberta was a lifelong learner, educator and healthcare advocate. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1963, after which she worked as a medical technician. She moved to Ashland in 1976 with her children, and she received a Master of Science in general studies from Southern Oregon State College in 1978.
Roberta worked subsequently as a biology teacher at Medford Mid-High and North Medford High School. While her passion for the sciences, academia and healthcare was evident in her dedication to these roles, her true calling was realized when she received her Master of Science in genetic counseling from the University of California at Irvine in 1992 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 1993. Her position in genetic counseling afforded her the opportunity to move to Portland, until her reluctant retirement in 2009, having loved every moment that she had with that truly fulfilling career.
Outside of her professional life, Roberta enjoyed a variety of hobbies that the Portland area and its people had to offer. These included hiking, volunteering with Portland Parks and Recreation, playing mahjong, gardening in her backyard, and traveling, to name a few. Such activities brought her joy and allowed her to connect with nature and with her friends and loved ones.
She was fiercely dedicated to her grandsons and spent many hours supporting their sporting and school events. She could be found almost every weekend in the spring, summer and fall at her grandson Skye’s baseball games and braved all sorts of weather to attend Forrest’s track and cross-country meets. Roberta made it a point to take each boy on a trip each summer (until they were too cool to travel with grandma) and took them out to movies, wonderland and sushi lunches on many school breaks. She was also a dyed-in-the-wool Oregonian and passionate Oregon Ducks fan.
Roberta is survived by her children Kristen Foxley, Shannon Foxley and Sean Foxley and her grandsons Skye Baker and Forrest Baker. Her love for her children was both immediately obvious and deeply felt, and she shared that commitment and love with her grandkids. As a single mother, Roberta displayed an unyielding commitment and resolute dedication to each of her children’s happiness and success. She is also survived by her younger siblings, Christine Sleeter, Ellen (Sleeter) Hellen and Ron Sleeter.
Roberta’s life was commemorated Jan. 27 at the German American Society in Portland. Another event will be held at a date to be determined this summer at the family cabin at Lake of the Woods in Southern Oregon. Details of the summer event will be posted on her Caring Bridge site as they are available.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to End of Life Choices Oregon.
Per her request, she has a memorial headstone in Siskiyou Memorial Park, 2100 Siskiyou Blvd., Medford, next to her parents and near her grandparents.
Roberta will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her kind heart, intelligence and love for her family and friends will be remembered fondly. May she rest in peace.
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Feb. 20 update: Photo caption corrected.
