Gorma Joy Hartlein, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away in White House, Tennessee on August 29th, at the age of 66.

To know Gorma Joy was to laugh. She had a quick wit, a wonderful sense of humor, and a gift for turning even the ordinary moments of life into memories worth telling again and again. Her stories, laughter, and larger-than-life personality commanded the room.

Gorma Joy loved bringing people together. Whether she was dancing to music that she loved, telling a story that got funnier every time she told it, or teasing someone she loved. She was always the life of the party.

Gorma Joy was an extraordinary woman who provided a great life for her family and exposed them to amazing places, people and adventures. She loved to travel, preferably to a beach, but her real joy was her family. She loved deeply, gave generously, and was always there with encouragement, advice, and a shoulder to cry on. Her family will remember not only the things she did for them, but the love she brought into their lives.

Her greatest legacy is the family she leaves behind: her daughter Stacy Angus (Joey Angus), daughter Mychelle Sloan (Steven Sloan), sister Carolyn Hartlein, sister Betty Staggs, brother Petie Sailors, brother Kenneth Hartlein, grandchildren Braylen Angus, Hayden Angus, Liam Blaylock, Danica Sloan and great-grandchildren Westen Angus and Layten Angus. She was preceded in death by her son Ben Blaylock, mother Bernice Western, father Gorman Hartlein, and brothers Larry Miller and Willie Staggs.

We will miss her laughter, her stories, her hugs, and all the wonderful chaos that came with having her in our lives. We will miss her cheering at the football games. We will miss her singing along to every song. We will miss watching sunrises at the beach together. We will miss knowing she was always in our corner and was not afraid to come out swinging.

I am forever grateful mom for your love and the example you have set as a great mother and Omi. You are unforgettable.

A celebration of Gorma Joy’s life will be held on September 19, 2026 at 4:00 pm at the Miner Convention Center in Sikeston, Missouri.