Valerie A. Gaylord

Valerie Anne (Krause) Gaylord, 67, of Albion, Michigan passed away surrounded by family and friends on March 16, 2015. She was born in Manistee, Michigan on Feb 18, 1948 to the late Arlie and Shirley Krause. She moved to Muskegon, Michigan where she graduated from Reeths Puffer High School. In 1971, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education.

Val married Thomas Gaylord on November 6, 1971. They were married for 43 years. They moved to Battle Creek, MI so Tom could start a new job at Kellogg’s and they could start a family. Within four years, they had given birth to Matthew, Meridith, and Denise. Val was a devoted stay at home mom. She thoroughly enjoyed dancing, writing letters, giving whimsical gifts, and listening to music. Val could tell a story like nobody else. She was a faithful attendee of the Catholic churches where she lived.

She is survived by her husband, Tom; son, Matt Gaylord of Albion; daughters, Meri (Beni) Shabani of Battle Creek, Denise (Jamie) Boland of Osceola, Indiana. Four granddaughters, Kennedy and Cassidy Boland, Emira and Elisa Shabani, and one grandson, Arion Shabani. She is also survived by siblings, Amy (Martin) Nolan, Doug (Pam) Krause, Jan (Skip) Gorman and Joanne (Arnold) Schmiedeknecht, and many other family and friends.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 20, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John Catholic Church, 1020 Irwin Ave., Albion with Father Joe Gray officiating. Interment will follow at Rice Creek Cemetery in Marshall, MI. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. with a Rosary at 7:30 P.M.at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Dr., Albion, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave messages of condolence for the family or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.kevintiddfuneralhome.com