Valarie J. Smith, 68, of Beacon, died Saturday morning, November 21, 2009, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa. She was born July 5, 1941 at Huntington Park, California, the daughter of Wesley Oliver and Marjorie Fern Collister Dorn. Valarie graduated from the New Hampton (IA) High School with the class of 1959, and later received her B.A. degree from UNI. She was married to Keith Michael Schippers in October of 1963, and later divorced. Early in her adult life, Valarie worked at Continental overall factory in Oskaloosa, and later was a nurse aide at the old Mercy Hospital in Oskaloosa, and various nursing homes in Oskaloosa and surrounding area. On April 22, 1988, she was united in marriage to Cecil D. Smith at Beacon. Valarie enjoyed sewing and tending her flower garden and arranging flowers. She also enjoyed watching and feeding birds, and delighting in her grandchildren.

Her family includes her husband, Cecil D. Smith of Beacon; three sons: Michael Gene Schippers of Brownfield, Texas, Mitchell Joe Schippers (& Lana Butcher) of Des Moines, and Keith Michael (& Janise) Schippers, Jr. of Bremerton, Washington; a daughter: Michelle Lee (& Nicholas) Boat of Pella; two stepsons: Christopher Doyle (& Brenda) Smith of Murray, Kentucky and Curtis Duane Smith of Oskaloosa; 10 grandchildren; 6 step grandchildren; her mother, Marjorie Dorn of Independence, Iowa; a brother: David (& Jean) Dorn of Urbana, Iowa; a sister: Georgine (& Danny) Dodd of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and a brother-in-law: John Kirk in Virginia.

Valarie was preceded in death by her father; and a sister, Donna Mae Kirk.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 25, 2009, at 10 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Ray Tilstra officiating. Burial will be in the Beacon Cemetery at Beacon. Visitation will begin on Tuesday after 12 noon, and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Tuesday from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to Mahaska Hospice.