Valarie Jo "Jo" Waller

1964 - 2017

Valarie "Val" Jo Payne Waller sadly passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 24, 2017. Valarie was born on August 31, 1964 on her Dad's birthday, the second child of Leon and Pat Payne. Valarie attended ArickareeSchool through the 7th grade. While at Arickaree, Valarie was very active in the SunnydaleEvangelicalChurch group. The Payne family then moved to Otis, CO in 1977 and Valarie graduated from OtisHigh School in 1982. During this time, she enjoyed participating in 4-H, school sports, and various other activities. Val's senior year she was a work study for Ray and Betty Hagler at the Hagler General Store. She continued on weekends through college. Also in 1982, she became a Godmother to her nephew Brian Anderson. After graduation, Valarie attended NJC in Sterling, CO and received her degree in cosmetology. She retained her license, of which she was very proud, throughout the years. After working in cosmetology for a couple of years, Valarie took the position of manager at Anthony's Grocery Store in Sterling, which she held for 7 years. The next phase of her journey led her to a career at the Logan County Courthouse, where she worked for 23 years and attained the position of Deputy Assessor. Valarie was a hard worker and was very well liked by all her co-workers. On September 25, 1993, Valarie married the love of her life, Steven Waller. They made their home in rural Colorado, north of Daily. Valarie took great pride in her home. She was an avid gardener and shared a lot of the produce she raised with family, friends, and neighbors. Even though Valarie and Steven didn't have any children, they both loved their nieces and nephews as if they were their own. Valarie is survived by her husband Steven, her parents Leon and Pat Payne, sister Nicki and husband Mark Anderson, brother Douglas and wife Sheila Payne, mother-in-law Helen Joan Waller, brother-in-law John and wife Kathy Waller, sister-in-law Rebecca and husband Allan Pederson, sister-in-law Christine Waller, aunts, uncles, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews. Valarie was preceded in death by her grandparents Kenneth and Ethel Miller, Tom Jr. and Margorie Payne, and grandfather-in-law Wayne Hiatte. Valarie was taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Visitation will be from 4 pm to 6 pm Friday, Dec. 29 at Tennant Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Saturday, Dec. 30 at the First Presbyterian Church, Sterling. Burial will follow at the Otis Cemetery, Otis, CO. A luncheon will follow cemetery services at the First Presbyterian Church in Otis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Val Waller Memorial Fund for a college fund for her great-nieces and nephews in care of Tennant Funeral Home, PO Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.