Valerie Gallagher

Valerie Gallagher passed away June 26, 2021, at the age of 57.

            Valerie was born April 5, 1964 in Roswell, New Mexico to Calvin and Mary Lou (White) Gallagher. Her mother worked as a safety coordinator for Radio Shack and Tandy, while her father was the owner of Gallagher Trucking Company, where he hauled cattle. Growing up as the baby of the family with big brother Robert (Hank) and sisters Pamela and Jewel, Valerie was Daddy’s little girl.  Living in Roswell until the age of 13, Valerie was always outside.  She played with any toys her brother or sisters might have had and did pretty much what they all did. When Valerie was very small, her sister Pam (who she called Sissy) treated her like her very own real-life doll. Pam would fix Valerie’s hair really tall into a French twist, and then put her up onto the kitchen table with a salt shaker.  They would have so much fun performing the song “Let’s Have a Party.” When she got to be about age four, she decided she wanted to be a boy like her big brother Hank. She wore chaps, a hat, boots, and spurs.  She was very serious about this and called herself “Sam.”  It got so bad that for about six months she would not answer to anything but Sam, until her father stepped in and put a stop to it.  She was always a Tom boy.  Her childhood was spent mostly following her daddy and learning about trucks.  She would be right there when he was working on a truck, asking a thousand questions. Valerie went to Brenndle Elementary until age 12. 

Valerie’s world changed when she lost her daddy in a truck and train collision. She moved to North Richland Hills.  Her sibling had all grown up and lived out on their own, and life was not what she remembered from before.  Valerie quit school and hung out with her new friends who were into booze, drugs, and anything wild. She suffered another tragic loss when she got into a terrible car accident with her first boyfriend.  Her boyfriend was driving, she was in the middle, and another girl and her boyfriend’s two brothers were in the car and were driving very fast.  They ran into another car, killing the family in the other car, along with her boyfriend.  The others, including Valerie, were all severely injured. The partying continued for much of her life.  She lived in the Fort Worth area until 2018, when she moved to Elm Mott, Texas.

Valerie cleaned houses when she worked.  She also did odd jobs from time to time, but her favorite job was being mama to her daughter Starr.  Starr Marie Hall was the love of her life. She also gave birth to another baby girl four years earlier for her sister Pam, who was unable to have children.  Pam always says that Valerie will always be her hero for giving her such a precious gift that no one else could, her daughter Mary Cheyenne Hall. Valerie loved her family dearly.  She might have griped about something that someone in the family did, but would defend them from anyone.  If someone dared to complain about her family, they better be able to run fast. She loved spending time with her family for the holidays.

            Valerie was very easy to get to know and was very outgoing.  She never met a stranger, and was always willing to help anyone with any task.  Valerie loved crafting, especially if it involved tie-dying. A Christian with a relationship with Jesus for many years, she had a soft spot for the elderly. Although Valerie was very insecure about her lack of education, often calling herself stupid, her family knew her funny, compassionate nature.

            Valerie’s cremation services are being handled by Corley-Porter Funeral Home.