Valerie Jean Barrett

She met her husband, William Barrett, in Houston in 1982. The two married in 1986, sticking by each other the last 37 years through all the ups and downs life threw their way. They always had enough because they had each other.

Valerie always wanted to be a mother, and she fulfilled that dream three times. She was a loving and supportive mother to her three children, William Jr., Sarah, and Nicholas. The role came naturally to her.

As a stay-at-home mom, she was very involved in school functions, always volunteering. So when she decided to rejoin the workforce, becoming a member of the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District team was a natural fit. She enjoyed working as the counselors' secretary at Watkins Middle School, made even better by the fact that she worked with her best friends. The family is so appreciative of how the entire school rallied behind her in recent years.

She loved the beach - from Galveston to Hawaii. She also had a soft spot for animals, even known for taking in a stray cat or two. She had an amazing sense of humor and infectious laughter. And she would never say no to chocolate or Dr. Pepper.

Valerie redefined what strength meant, battling stage four breast cancer for the last five years. Her family is so proud of, and awed by, how hard she fought. She died as she lived her life, surrounded by family and loved ones. She will be sorely missed.

She is preceded in death by her father James Gravis, brother-in-law Michael Brady, mother-in-law Lois Barrett and father-in-law Leighton Barrett. She is survived by husband William, son William Jr., daughter Sarah and husband Alex Ostertag, son Nicholas, mother Valjean Gravis, brother Greg Gravis and his wife Gloria, sister Marie Brady and husband Frank Garcia, brother Tim Gravis and wife Carmen, brother David Gravis and wife Kim, brother Robert Gravis and wife Fran, and brother-in-law Keith Barrett.

Also survived by niece Meghan Gray and husband Chris, niece Gabrielle Mason and husband David, niece Hannah Gravis, nephew Robert Gravis Jr., nephew James Gravis, nephew Harley Gravis, three great nieces and nephews, Kelan, Mya and Micayla, and close friends, including Donna Valdez and husband Mike, Martha Manson, the Palmer family, the Graner family, and nephew Michael Brady, and great niece Isabella and many others.

A memorial service will be held on April 21, 2023 at Brookside Funeral Home - Cypress Creek at 11am. The family requests that attendees wear bright colors to honor the celebration of her life.