Valerie J. Wilcox

Lyons Falls - Valerie Joan Wilcox, 58, of Laura Street passed away peacefully at her residence on Monday, October 26, 2009, while under the care of her loving family and Lewis County Hospice. She was born in Rome on July 30, 1951, a daughter of the late Walter and Zilphia Armstrong Kiser. She grew up in Port Leyden, receiving her education in Port Leyden and at South Lewis Senior High School. On April 6, 1968, Valerie was united in marriage with Richard J. Wilcox at St. Martin's Church in Port Leyden. The couple moved to their present home on Laura Street in 1969. Valerie is survived by her loving husband, Richard; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melissa and Edward Fox and Rebecca and John Conway, all of Boonville; four grandchildren; Kyle, Kevin, Bradley and Brianna, a great granddaughter, Annabell; and a very special nephew that she raised and thought of as her son, Stanley Hutchins, Jr., and his wife, Julie; a brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Bernice Kiser of Camden; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Shirley and Stanley Hutchins, Sr. of Boonville, and Sharon and Willard Schuyler of Durhamville; three brothers-in-law, Gerald Conover of Boonville, James Wilcox of Lyons Falls, and Robert Wilcox and his wife, Joy, of Moravia; a sister-in-law; Pauline Gergel and her husband, Tom, of Oneonta; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, neighbors, and camping buddies. She was predeceased by three brothers, Donald, Robert and Dennis; two sisters, Margaret Hina and Ruth Conover; two brothers-in-law, Gerald Hina and John Wilcox; a sister-in-law, Mary Morgan; and her in-laws, Walter and Charlotte Wilcox. She was a member of the Charles J. Love Post American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, a life member of the Lowville VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and the Boonville Women's 600 Bowling Club. She also served as Treasurer of the Lyons Falls Bowling Alley Association. She greatly enjoyed camping at Eighth Lake, playing cards, shopping, bowling, dancing, going to the casinos, and caring for her pets, Midnight and Miss Gabby. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter and their foster children. For eighteen years Valerie and Richard were certified foster parents, and during that time they lovingly cared for and gave a home to several children, many of whom she remained in contact with. She also enjoyed babysitting local children. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, where Pastor Dale Brown from the Abundant Life Fellowship Church of Boonville will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday from 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family in Wildwood Cemetery in Lyons Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Port Leyden, or Lyons Falls Ambulance Fund.