known as Josie or Cheppita, for her diminutive stature which contradicted her enduring and
tenacious spirit.
As a child her family moved to Tempe, where she met and married Arnulfo Valles, and
raised three sons and two daughters. Later in life she babysat grandchildren and other children,
and formed close bonds to them that lasted into their adult lives. She also helped raise her
grandson, Gabriel.
It was Cheppita’s pride and joy to live in a house built by her sons. She found pleasure in
purchasing antiques, tending to her lush garden, watching nature and Western TV shows, and all
things related to the actor John Wayne.
Cheppita shared hand-made tortillas and beans she made on an outdoor wood-burning
stove even through the hottest summer days. She also made spicy salsa on a molcajete using chile
peppers, oregano and cilantro that she had grown herself. She enjoyed keeping chickens for fresh
eggs, sewing quilts and women’s handbags from old pairs of jeans.
She was proud of having worked for 25 years in the housekeeping department at Mesa
General Hospital (now Banner Desert). The medical staff relied on her bilingual skills to translate
information to patients for which she was awarded recognition.
The last few years of her life she was attentively cared for by family, traveling between
the Valley and northern Arizona. Cheppita died peacefully at her assisted-living home with
family by her side. She leaves behind her loving family of Manuel (Corina) Valles of Mesa,
Arnulfo (Irene) Valles Jr. of Casa Grande, Domingo (Josie) Valles of Tempe; three brothers, three
sisters; numerous nieces, nephews, grand-children and great-grandchildren. She had a long life,
was thoughtful, grateful and funny. She was loved and will be missed, but not forgotten.
