Valerie Eve Luevano

Valerie was born in South West London on 3 August 1933. The second of six children born to Walter (Reg) and Dorothy (Harewood) Doran, Val – as she was often called - and her siblings were evacuated to their Uncle Jack’s farm close to Castle Ashby, during the London Blitz, having first survived a number of air raids. The siblings and their cousins enjoyed the freedom of the farm (no school) although the war was still a part of everyday life and she witnessed a bomb being dropped on the fields. Growing up during the war helped Val form her strong work ethic, care for others, pragmatic approach to problem solving and strong opposition to food waste.

On 2 June 1953 Valerie camped on the Mall in London overnight with her sister Pat, along with countless others, to get a good viewing spot for the coronation parade of Queen Elizabeth II. While there she heard the newspaper vendors shouting out that Everest had been conquered.

Valerie worked as a secretary at the Bank of England and the many cryptic notes she wrote to herself in shorthand could be found around the house. Subsequently, she trained at the Royal College of Nursing and worked as a nurse at the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital in London, where she met colleagues who became lifelong friends.

In 1964, ready for a new adventure, she moved to Bermuda where she worked in a pharmacy. It was in Bermuda that she met her future husband, U.S. Air Force Communications Specialist Richard Luevano. They were married at St John the Baptist Church, Old Malden, England on 24 April 1965 and stationed in Japan after their wedding.

Valerie’s greatest joy was the arrival of her sons, Paul in Oklahoma in 1970, and Jonathan in Arizona, in 1973. She was a loving, patient, fun and devoted mother, who delighted in watching her sons learn and play, and grow into the kind and loving men they are today. The family lived around the United States and spent time in England, before Richard retired, and in 1981 they finally settled down in Longwood, Florida. Valerie trained as a massage therapist, continuing a lifelong dedication to helping and healing others. During this time she found lifelong friendship with three of her colleagues, Karen, Rhonda and Emilee.

Valerie had a keen mind, and a thirst for knowledge that never stopped. She was open-minded and always ready for an adventure. She was elegant, generous and warm, with a sharp wit and a great sense of humor. She enjoyed learning about different cultures and making new friends. She loved animals and the many pets her boys would bring home were always welcome. Valerie had many interests and was particularly passionate about human and especially women’s rights and the welfare of children and animals. Valerie had a number of jobs during her life, but her favorite was being a mother to her sons and she was truly the best mother-in-law in the world.

She is pre-deceased by her parents, her sisters Patricia and Deidre, and her brothers Barry and Terry.

Valerie is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Richard; her son Jonathan of Longwood, Florida; her son Paul and his wife Annie of Boston, Massachusetts; her sister Marilyn Doran and her partner Douglas Wright of Cornwall, England; her cousin Jennifer Thomas of Longwood, Florida; her in-laws, the Jacksons in Sandwich, Massachusetts and the Luevanos of Los Angeles, California; her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, colleagues and many other friends around the world, all of whom she adored, and who adored her.

Valerie had a long and fascinating life, and will be greatly missed by us all although her spirit will remain with us.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to your favorite civil rights or animal welfare charity.

There will be celebrations of Valerie’s life held in the US, and the UK next year.

“Grief is the price we pay for love."

-Queen Elizabeth II