Valerie Brown
Age - 77
December 7, 2023
Valerie "Val" Kathleen (Kleaman) Brown was born at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia on February 27th, 1946, to Gordon and Kathleen (Whorley) Kleaman. Val's parents owned and operated a tugboat business known as GL Kleaman Towing, Coast Marine Towing and later Lionsgate Tug and Barge. Gordon worked the tugs out of Vancouver Harbour and False Creek for his entire life and Kathleen did the books for him. Val grew up with her siblings, Gord, Gary, Bill, and her little sister Deb. All the kids worked on the tugs during the summers growing up and each had a tug named after them, hers was called Valerie K. The Kleamans lived in Vancouver until Val was about 8 years old and then moved to North Vancouver where they lived in a couple of different homes. The next move took them to beautiful Deep Cove around 1958 until approximately 1964 when the journey continued to the British Properties in West Vancouver. A summer oceanfront home on Gossip Island in the Gulf Islands brought the family close together enjoying boating, fishing, water skiing and crabbing. Val attended a secretarial school and came to live in the west end of Vancouver. She worked downtown where she eventually met her life partner and husband, William Ross Brown. They met by chance, living in the same apartment building, each with their friends. Ross "accidentally" entered the wrong apartment one day and began their journey through life together. Married on April 7th, 1967, and continued for the next 56 years. On February 2, 1968, the couple welcomed their first-born son, Jared Ross Brown, into their lives. Tragically Val's mother, Kathy lost a seven-year battle with cancer at the early age of 43 in 1969 when Val was just turning 22 years old and pregnant with their second child. On April 5th, 1969, Trevor Joseph Neil Brown joined the family. Eventually the young couple moved to Prince George, British Columbia, built a beautiful home and added a daughter to the family, Lisa Kathleen Brown on March 28, 1971. Years of hockey games, dance recitals, camping, vacations, and love ensued. Ross's career with B. C. Bearing Engineers came with moves to Winnipeg, MB, Tsawwassen, BC and then led to an opportunity to immigrate to the United States in 1981, creating a whole new lifefor the family starting in Federal Way, Washington on the Twin Lakes Golf Course. Throughout the years Valerie had many passions, crafting, ceramics, gardening, golfing, sewing, genealogy, camping, riding "wet bikes", and quilting to just name a few. A new passion started in Val's late thirties that became a lifelong fervor, horses. It started with two, Prince and Rusty, which became the lifestyle of cleaning horse stalls, riding lessons, trail rides with so much laughter. These horses led the family to purchase a 5-acre home in Auburn, Washington which became Starlite Stables. They found a love for Paint horses and began competing at horse shows and breeding themselves. Many foals were born in Auburn, bringing so much joy to Val. Extended family would travel to the farm and Val would welcome them with open arms to share in the fun. Lots of animals over the years; goats, ducks, geese, chickens, pigs, a cow, many cats, and dogs that stole Val's heart. Her heart for animals was huge and never stopped. Throughout Val's life one thing was constant, family. She was the glue to keep everyone together and shared her huge heart unconditionally. When grandchildren started arriving and eventually great-grandchildren, that love just got bigger. What a "Gramma" she was, full of fun adventures and sharing her loves and passions with them. It didn't stop there, to know Val was to know love. She blessed her siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and strangers with her special touch. But it didn't stop there, Val sponsored numerous children around the world, fed and clothed the poor, giving to the local food banks and community. So kind, so compassionate, so encouraging, so strong, so wise. When Val was in her 50's she found another love, an all-encompassing love. She found her friend, Jesus. To say this changed her life is a huge understatement. It changed everything about her life. She was on fire with this love, learning about God and living for Him. Her mission began to share His love with those most important to her. Over the years Val worked for a variety of companies including, Versatile Industries, US Bearings & Drive, Washington State Supported Employment, and her love for Jesus led her to work as a secretary at Wabash Church for several years. The passing of time brought a move to Colville, Washington after Ross's retirement from Motion Industries where they have lived for the last 7 years. Theyfound fellowship and friendship at a First Baptist Church which Val grew to love as her family. She found her niche in Colville with many bible study groups, swimming, quilting, attending retreats and more to keep her busy. This new place in life allowed Val to shower her great-grandchildren with her time and love. Many trips were made to the local flour mill and dollar store to bring them all joy. Sadly, Val started to experience changes in her health starting in 2021 that began an arduous battle with LGL Leukemia. Her faith carried her through until Val was welcomed home by Jesus on December 4, 2023. Her faith in Jesus will continue to guide her family forward with her favorite quote, "Be still and know that I am God". She is survived by her husband, William "Ross" Brown of Colville, WA, son Jared Brown (Susan Crane) of Winnipeg, MB, son Trevor Brown (Danelle Fort) of Tulalip, WA, daughter Lisa McMillan and her husband, Benjamin of Colville, WA, grandchildren, Joanna and Josh Houser of Texas, Shanley Heinsma of Cheney, WA, Taylir and Jeff Wall of Medical Lake, WA, Payten Heinsma of Kettle Falls, WA, Riley Heinsma of Sacramento, CA, Aubree McMillan of Kettle Falls, WA, Gracie McMillan of Coeur D'Alene, ID, Novella Randall of Bellingham, WA, great grandchildren, Savanah, Matthew, Samantha, Camden, Brooklyn, Rayna, Aurora, Addison, Aidyn, Juniper, brother William "Bill" Kleaman, sister Debra "Deb" Kleaman, sister in-law Wendy Kleaman, and many loved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Gordon and Kathleen Kleaman, brothers Gordon Kleaman and Gary Kleaman, sister-in-law Marilyn Kleaman. A memorial service for Mrs. Valerie "Val" K. Brown will begin at 11:00 a. m. , Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Colville, WA. Memorial contributions may be given to any charity supporting outreach for children. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www. danekasfuneralchapel. com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.Show more
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