Valerie Jessica Conover

Valerie Jessica Conover, age 83, of Pelham, Alabama passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024. She was born on September 1, 1940 in Waukegan, Illinois. Valerie attended Waukegan Township High School where she met her husband, Dennis (Denny) Warren Conover. She earned an Associates Degree from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1960. She graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1982 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree.

Valerie was a homemaker, loving wife and mother to four children. She supported her husband, Denny's career at Oscar Mayer through multiple moves including New York State, Tennessee, California, and finally to Pelham, Alabama in 1973. Following the passing of her husband, Denny in 1976, the family continued to reside in Pelham.

Between 1987 and 1993, she was a sales representative for Princess House Corporation. In 1983, she married her loving husband, Larry Smith. During 41 year of marriage, Valerie and Larry enjoyed travel, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix, Washington and Oregon States, Maine, and a river cruise on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Even meeting the famed race horse, Secretariat. Following a stroke in 2019, Larry became a dedicated caregiver to Valerie and was by her side during her recent hospitalization.

Valerie was a founding member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverchase, AL, and most recently a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Birmingham, AL. Valerie enjoyed creating art, including ceramics, painting and interior decorating. She was a gardener and landscape designer. Her spring garden planted with tulips, iris and daffodils continues to bloom each year. She had a keen sense of fashion and dressed to impress!

She was a supporter of the Disabled Vietnam Veterans and the American Cancer Society.

Valerie is survived by her husband, Larry Everett Smith; sister, Jessica Schiek; children, Dede Conover-Blankenship (Jason), Wendy Conover (Alain Ehrhardt), Craig Conover, Denise Conover-Tansil; grandchild, Jessica Claire Blankenship.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John Herbert Schiek and Irene Laskis Schiek. Her late spouse, Dennis Warren Conover "Denny" and her son-in-law, Louis W. Tansil.

A memorial service and reception will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church on Sunday, August 25 at 2 p.m. 4887 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 4887 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242.