Valerie Jo Moore, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died Oct. 29, 2011, following a short battle with cancer.
She was born to Cliff and Jessie Sherwood in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on April 27, 1946. Valerie grew up in Idaho, Utah and returned to California to graduate from high school in 1965.
Following graduation, she joined the Navy, serving as a photographer and was stationed at Patuxent River, Md.
In the fall of 1966 she met a young sailor, John W. Moore and they were married on Feb. 18, 1967. Two years later a daughter was born and their second daughter joined them while they were stationed at Barber’s Point, Hawaii. The family was then transferred to Lemoore, Calif., and in 1976 John and Valerie made Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island their home.
During her time as a Navy wife, Valerie served as a Girl Scout leader, squadron ombudsman, president of the North Whidbey Island Council, and was one of the founders of Artsworks Gallery in Greenbank. Valerie also worked at the Navy Exchange floral shop, at the Photo Mill as a printer and as an instructional assistant for the Oak Harbor School District.
Her life’s passion was photography and you would always see her with a camera. She enjoyed taking pictures of her grandchildren, family friends and her garden. She crocheted baby blankets for each of her grandchildren and took great pride in being a wife, mother and grandmother.
Valerie is survived by her husband John of Oak Harbor; by two daughters, Kelly and husband Gerald Stanford and Erica and fiancé Kirk Johnson, all of Oak Harbor; by brothers Cliff Sherwood of Castro Valley, Calif., and John Sherwood of Alameda, Calif.; sister Victoria Collins of Austin, Texas; and grandchildren Jesse, Travis, Samantha, Asia, Cristi, Adrian, Haron and Danielle. Her parents preceded her in death.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Barn “A” at the Greenbank Farm. Memorials in Valerie may be made in her name to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle. Cremation was held with private family inurnment at a later date. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor.
