Avis de décès de Valerie-Jean Walker - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Valerie Jean Walker passed away Sunday, June 12, 2011 after a long courageous battle with breast cancer. Her last days on earth were spent in Hospice care surrounded by her family and friends.She was born April 27, 1959 in London, Ontario, Canada and although she loved her Canadian heritage she was proud to become an American citizen in 1995.Her family moved to Rochester, NY in 1965 where she grew up and received her education until moving to Pensacola, FL in 1981. She married Edward Walker, III, and attended PJC and received her Associates Degree. She then proceeded to get her Bachelor of Science Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and followed it up with a Masters Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at UWF. She has taught Biology and Microbiology at PSC since her graduation until the end of the spring 2011 semester.Valerie has always been a big friend of the outdoors. She loved plants and animals. She and her family spent many days boating and camping on the Blackwater River. They never passed a state park without stopping to explore and enjoy nature.She volunteered with the Sea Turtle Monitoring Nesting Program through the National Park Service for 15 years, traveling to Pensacola Beach early every Saturday morning from May to September to look for and mark any new nests. She received both Silver and Gold Presidential Pins and Award Certificates.She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Albert Dickerson.She is survived by her husband, Edward Walker, III, her only son, Michael Walker (US Marines), and her friend for life, Donna Yoder (Gainesville, FL).She is also survived by her brothers, Michael and Gary Dickerson (Rochester, NY), brother-in-law, William (Lori) Walker (Houston, TX), mother, Muriel Jones (Milton), grandmother, Evelyn Holditch (Canada), uncle, Donald Holditch (Canada), and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff at Sacred Heart Hospital and Covenant Hospice for their loving care of Valerie and her family in her last days.Valerie's wishes were that donations be made to the National Park Service, Jeanne Taylor, Gulf Island National Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Fla., 32563.A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 26, 2011 at the Bamberg Chapel, First Baptist Church, Milton, Fla., with a visitation starting at 3:30 p.m. with a service following at 4:00 p.m. Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.Let the family know you care. Sign the guest book under news/obituaries at www.srpressgazette.com