Valorie Miller

Valorie Lynn Miller was born in Gary, Indiana to Marilu (Sumurdy) Vince and Joseph F. Vince on April 17, 1960 and passed away on April 15, 2018.

She lived in Hobart, Indiana until the age of six when her parents moved to Michigan City, Indiana. At the age of nine her family moved again to Fort Dodge, Iowa.

She graduated high school from Fort Dodge Senior High School and after a couple of years in college, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1989 she married and from that union she had two children. Ryan Joseph Lester, born April 13, 1990 and Troy Nicholas Lester born March 18, 1991.

She lived in several states while her children were growing up including Arizona, Virginia, Florida and eventually settled in back in Iowa in Jefferson to be close to family.

Valorie always believed her children were her greatest accomplishment and dedicated herself to providing for them and raising them. She also had a heart for several local teenagers who needed a place to live. She opened her home to all her children’s friends with an unconditional love, a generous heart and total acceptance.

Valorie was a talented artist and her family has several of her paintings that now have become treasures. She had an interest and talent for graphic design and designed several websites and printed material.

On warm days, Valorie could be found target practicing with her son Troy and on cold days, she could be found marathoning Hallmark movies.

Her last place of employment was The Uptown Cafe where she served and interacted with the locals of Jefferson for over ten years. Her job was both trying and rewarding but very much a part of who she was.

She struggled and suffered the pain only experienced this side of Heaven always knowing she would one day rest in the arms of her Savior.

Valorie was preceded in death by her father, Joseph F. Vince and is survived by her sons, Ryan Lester of Ankeny, Iowa and Troy (Jessica Taggart) Lester of Polk City, Iowa; her mother, Marilu Vince of Chandler, Ariz.; her twin sister, Sheila (Gary) Goodwin of Jefferson; her brother, Tony Vince of Isla Mujeres, Mexico; several nieces and nephews; cousins and friends.

Contact Us

Jefferson Bee & Herald
Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161