Valerie E. Wallace 

May 5, 1946 – October 24, 2026

"This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."-Shakespeare

Valerie Eileen Wallace, age 79, passed away on Friday Oct. 24, 2025, at Maine Medical Center in Portland due to complications arising from ovarian cancer surgery.

Valerie, originally of Presque Isle, ME, most recently kept a home in Augusta as a place to display her vast photo collection of family and friends as she traveled to visit the people she loved. Always a Maine farm girl, she spent a large portion of her life living outside Washington D.C. where she worked as a high school English teacher and raised her son Gregory W. Norris. Valerie, over the course of her life, traveled widely (most recently living with her son and his family in Malaga, Spain). She always treated everyone she met with compassion, gentleness, and respect.

Valerie was a unique soul, always comfortable being her authentic self and overjoyed to get to know other individuals. She moved through the world with beauty and grace, whether it was in competitive downhill skiing or dance performance. Filled with wonderfully quirky senses of humor and style she found delight in experiencing all that life had to offer and was often remarking on some recent fabulous theatre production or art exhibit. She also had a deep interest in the written word and spent a lifetime appreciating the work of masters as well as perfecting her own craft. She doubtlessly would have a number of gentle suggestions about ways that this obituary could be improved while complimenting the positive aspects of every iteration.

Valerie was predeceased by her husband John G. LaVanway, her brother Kim D. Wallace, her parents Dana and Jessica Wallace, and many close friends and relatives. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Gregory and Angela Norris, her three grandchildren; Gabriel, Jack, and Fiona as well as her sister Sue (Lon) Walters and sister-in-law Sue Wallace, and her nephews and niece; Chris (Trisha) and Matt (Jennifer) Walters, and John and Anne Wallace; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by, due to her loving nature, a vast number of friends who will sorely mark her passing from this world, but are grateful for the opportunity to have had her touch their lives. She leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, non-judgement, enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, adventurous spirit, and zest for life. She was a constant, wise and wonderful friend to many.

As per her wishes, Valerie will be buried this summer in the family plot in Lisbon, ME. A celebration of life gathering will be held in Maine on August 15th.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care, One Church Street, Augusta, Maine 04330

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home website, www.khrfuneralhomes.com