Valerie LaVae (Whaley) Martinez, 79, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at her home in Lexington.

She was born February 18, 1936, in Merna, Nebraska, to Sidney B. and Ann M. (Johnson) Whaley. Valerie was born during a bizzard at her home and her dad delivered her! She grew up in the Callaway area, a place she was so proud to call her home.

In 1953, she moved to California. Valerie was the first female distributor for outside sales with Modgelin Company in Burbank, California, and then Executive Assistant for Fire Fighting equipment for the Halprin Company in Los Angeles. She returned to Nebraska in 1988, moving to Lexington to be near family. Upon moving to Lexington, she worked for a time at Plectron, and finished her career registering new students for the Lexington School system.

Valerie was a faithful member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. She served on the Parish Council for many years.

Whenever you would see Valerie, she always had a smile on her face and a kind word for you. She loved music, was an avid reader, made wonderful Mexican dishes, and Facebook fanatic (this way she could keep up with family and friends), sports; especially, the Oregon Ducks and Los Angeles Lakers. Her favorite times were always spent with family, attending family gatherings, spending time with them, especially her daughter and son-in-law, sister, grandson and his family.

To sum up Valerie’s life would be love, family, and church.

Valerie is survived by her daughter, Cydney Anne (Ron) Basurto of Lexington, Nebraska; grandson, David (Brandi) Basurto of Lincoln, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren, Reiley, Caden, and Nolan Basurto all of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister, Beverley Fellers of Lexington, Nebraska; special friend, Norma Malcolm of Cozad, Nebraska; along with several nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Benson “Arlen” and Rodney Jay Whaley; stepson, Joseph Rivas; and, brother-in-law, Bill Fellers.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington with Reverend Paul Colling officiating. Burial will be in the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery at Lexington.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements.