Valera Lou Abright

On Friday, May 17, Valera Abright, age 84 of Midlothian, TX passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family.  Valera was born November 27, 1939 in Waxahachie, Texas.  Parents were Oscar and Lois Curry.  Valera was raised in the Bethel community, where she and her parents were members of the Bethel Methodist Church.  She went to school in Forreston through the eighth grade, and then to Waxahachie High School.  She graduated in 1957.

Valera’s first job was at Rauscher Pierce Stock Brokerage and later, she worked at James Ling Brokerage as a margin clerk.  She typed 100 words per minute.  She met David in a neighborhood group.  Later, they fell in love and she married David on June 8, 1972.  She left her job to raise their girls and they lived on David’s salary from his job at Sears.  In 1980, Sears left the area so David started selling marketing products and Valera was a church secretary as well as managed all the finances for the family home.  She had a strict budget so David got a measly allowance!  They were active in the DeSoto United Methodist Church for many years.  She and David were leaders in the MYF on Wednesdays.  In the late 80’s and 90’s, she was a successful real estate agent for First Mark John Allen and later worked under David’s broker license.  In 1985, they joined the new Thorntree Country Club where she was Chairman of the Board of Governors in 1989.  She also learned to play golf, winning several trophies and had 2 holes in one!  She and her friends became the TOTS, which included her best friends, Chiquita Floyd and Betty Edmonds; they played around the metroplex in tournaments.  She and David played many courses in the US, including California, Arizona, and Hawaii.  They retired in 2013 and enjoyed their ten grandchildren, and took each of them to New York City for their 16^th birthday.  She was their devoted Meme, and later was Meme to 13 great grandchildren.  Through the years, before and after retirement, they traveled extensively to London, Scotland, Paris and much of Italy, many trips to the Islands of Hawaii, cruises and a special trip to Europe on the QE2 and returned on the Concorde. 

Valera had a great love for family!  She was a wiz at organizing family trips and making sure everyone had a commemorative photo album afterward.  Holiday gatherings were always planned with the utmost care, with perfectly set tables, delicious food, lots of laughs, and games, games, games!  She rarely missed any of the grand’s sporting events, even if it meant out-of-state travel! 

Preceding Valera in death were her parents, Oscar and Lois Curry, and several aunts and uncles who were all very dear to her.   She was the ultimate care-taker to her father, mother and three aunts.  Valera is survived by her loving and devoted husband, David; Daughter Denise Wilson and husband Justin Wilson; daughter Ginger Smith and husband Carl Smith; daughter Cynthia VanDerLeden; daughter GayLynn Beason and husband Rob Beason; granddaughter Lindsey Laird and husband Justin Laird; grandson Josh Wilson and wife Bella Wilson; granddaughter Lauren Poe and husband Sean Poe; grandson Ryan Wilson and wife Nickie Wilson; grandson Tanner Beason; granddaughter Haley Wolters and husband Micah Wolters; granddaughter Hannah Hoyt and husband Josh Hoyt; granddaughter Riley Kunasek and husband Jackson Kunasek; grandson Holton Hester and grandson Noah Smith.  Great grandchildren Leila, Lincoln, Beckham, Asher, Titus, Eli, Jude, Tristan, Mila, Penelope, Axel, Truett, Amelia and Lainey Lynn (arriving September 2024). 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in honor of Valera’s memory.  We would love to know the charity you have chosen.