She was born as Loretta Ann Westfall. She began life on September 5, 1954 in Canton, Ohio. Her mother, Juanita Champ had recently married into the Westfall Family.
Soon after a baby sister followed and was named Mary Jo Westfall. Tragically, at this same period of her life they lost their father to a motorcycle accident. Her mother found life very difficult and the girls found themselves living with their uncle and aunt in Taylor, Mich.
As she grew up, she began to be a somewhat rebellious child. At the age of 16 she left home, quit school, and struck out on her own living on the streets. She was befriended by a young couple, who took her in and provided some guidance.
She then found herself working in and around the bar industry. It was there she met her first husband, Larry Slebodnick. Two children followed. A boy, Brian Lee, and a girl, Angela Danine. The marriage developed a rocky road and divorce followed.
While raising two children she returned to the bar industry for employment. Toward the end of that period of her life she took employment with a modeling business traveling the bar circuit selling lingerie. It was during this period she met and began dating her current husband, Thomas Focht. After dating for approximately ten months, they were married on August 24, 1994, and moved into his house on the water in Gibraltar, Mich.
Her two children soon followed and moved in with them. Soon afterward she took a job with a custom box builder in support of the automotive spare parts industry. She brought her son to that facility to work, also. Approximately two years after that, her son was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. She left the workforce soon after that.
She fell into a depressive state of mind. In order to help her through that period, her husband bought her a bright red Monty Carlo Indy Pace Car Version. They determined they needed to find a location with much lower cost of living. So, the Gibraltar house was put up for sale, and the hunt for a location to settle in began. She went on a trip to look at homes in West Virginia. It was at the end of that trip she found the home currently owned on Evun Breth Acres Road, in Buckhannon, W.Va. She found later she was moving into an area with many of her relatives.
After settling in for several years, she went to work for a place referred to as the sewing factory. After leaving that job, she settled into a stay at home life. During this time, she developed a love of cats. She would gather them from strays and bring them into the house to feed, water and look after them. The pride of cats rose to two hundred forty-nine. All the while she was raising a high-strung small dog.
When she finally realized she could no longer bring cats into the house she created open kennel areas for the new strays to feed and water. She would feed and water outside everyday. All animals were precious to her.
Mrs. Focht’s parents were Holbert Roy and Wanita Weese; she was raised by Evelyn Alice and Marvin Lee Biller. Her siblings include, Mary Joe Sawyer, Ginger Blessing, Kathy Biller, Joby Biller, Sonya Coppersmith, Roy Westfall, Bailey Westfall, Patsy Westfall and half brother, Brian Weise. She had two children, Brian Lee Slebodnick and Angela Danine Slebodnick, one son-in-law, Paul Goldman and one granddaughter, Mahkiri Ranae Slebodnick.
Friends will be received Monday, February 8, 2021 from 11 a.m. unto 2 p.m. at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. In honoring, Mrs. Focht’s wishes she will be cremated following the visitation.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
