Valerie Barth Watson

Valerie was born on June 15, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Berlin Pratt and Marie (Pendleton) Barth as the eldest of five children. In the late 1960s, the family relocated to California. Valerie was a 1977 graduate of Venice High School, later attending Long Beach City College, before going on to receive her associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Maine Community College. Following the birth of her second child, she relocated to Maine in 1989. On July 23, 1994, she married Kevin Watson, and built their home in Scarborough, where they lived until Kevin’s untimely death on February 8, 2013.

Although Valerie spent many years working in the banking industry, she discovered her true calling in early childhood education. For her, teaching was not only an opportunity for her to shine her light to others and be their advocate, but to show children the value of collaboration for the greater good. One thing you could count on if you were one of Valerie’s students was that while she expected a positive outcome from you, she would always be willing to let you show off your creativity and freedom of self-expression. She was a mother to three children but mothered countless other children throughout her life.

Of all the hats Valerie wore, the most important to her was mother, and later grandmother, or Amah as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren. She always felt that family was the most important and beautiful treasure in life, and spent valuable time making memories with her children and grandchildren.

Valerie was preceded in death by her father Berlin Pratt of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; husband Kevin Watson of Scarborough; mother Marie (Pendleton) Barth of Palm Desert, California; and father-in-law Ralph “Bud” Watson of Parsonsfield.

Valerie is survived by her eldest son, Bobby Llamar Kelly, his fiancée Marie Boulette, and their children Kehlani and Nazareth of Fiskdale, Massachusetts; her only daughter Kiyonah (Watson) Wilkinson, her husband Christopher Wilkinson, and their daughters Laila, Ava and Aaliyah of Scarborough; her youngest son Konner Watson of Saco; brother Malcolm Barth of Santa Cruz, California; sisters Jacqueline French of Spring Valley, California; Leasha Barth of Biddeford; and Krystal Ramírez and her husband Mark Anthony Ramirez of Brooklyn, New York; her mother-in-law Karen (Sawyer) Watson of Parsonsfield; her nephews Tyler Lockwood of Windham; and Dylan Lockwood of Winter Garden, Florida; her nieces Niesh French of Peoria, Arizona; Seanna Barth of Santa Cruz, California; Jamilah Barth of Sacramento, California; and Jashura “Jazzy” Ditto of Spring Valley, California; and countless cousins, relatives, friends and colleagues.

Arrangements are in the care of Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services in Portland. A memorial service and burial will be scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the American Cancer Society.