Obituary for Nancy Vale
Nancy Jane (Wood) Vale, age 82, passed away on May 18, 2013 at the Rosewood Nursing Facility in East Peoria, Illinois. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Master Sergeant Gerald O. Vale, of the Illinois State Police retired, her son, Douglas “Woody” Martinez of St. Louis, Missouri, and granddaughter, Janni Martinez (Ted Derenge) of Monrovia, California. Nancy was born on October 4, 1930, in Emden, Missouri. She was the youngest of 13 children born to Ora Lee (Pepper) and David Lee Wood of Warren, Missouri. Nancy was preceded in death by her grandson, Scott Christian Martinez of Peoria, Illinois and 11 of her siblings: David Cecil Wood, Edna Virginia Lees, Opal Lee Wood, Mary Alice Ragar, Ereliene Dimmitt, Hazeldene Taylor, Donald Ray Wood, John Robert Wood, Richard Durrett Wood, Roland Glen Wood, and his newborn twin Harold Gwynne Wood. One brother, Kent Ballard Wood of Mt. Pleasant, Utah survives. Nancy was a devoted sister to her entire family, and has continued to foster relationships with her extended family members throughout the country. Nancy attended Spence Grade School and Philadelphia High School in Missouri. After leaving her home state, she eventually settled in Peoria, Illinois where she married Gerald Vale and worked in the meat department at Ben Schwartz Food Markets until she retired. She and her husband have lived in Metamora, Illinois since 1977. Nancy was known by many as “Meemo Nancy” due to her kind, grandmotherly disposition and caring attitude to everyone that she met. She will be fondly remembered for her loving personality and interest in gardening, baking cobbler from her fruit trees, sewing, crocheting, and decorating her yard and home for the holidays. She also took great pleasure in reading and decorating Easter eggs with drawings of her favorite Pogo and Peanuts characters. Nancy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A small memorial service will be held at Andrew Chapel Cemetery in Warren, Missouri at a date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be offered in her name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
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