Valerie Ann Tapscott
October 1, 1942 ~ February 25, 2024
Born in:
Salem, MA
Resided in:
Lawrenceville, GA
Valerie Ann Gurley Tapscott passed away at the age of 81 after a 15-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease; often called “the long good-bye”.
Valerie was a member of the Crombie Street Congregational Church and a student at Salem High School, Salem, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1960. She began her career at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA. She received an associate degree in Social Work in Boston and became a CDAC (Chemical and Drug Abuse Counselor) in Houston, TX where she happily lived for 30+ years. She volunteered with a Child Advocacy Organization, enjoyed Yoga, loved animals, and was a partner in a small ranch where she loved the goats and horses.
Valerie moved to Seattle, Washington in 2010 to be with her longtime companion, Monty Dennison. They divided their time between, travel at home and abroad, and in their lovely Casa Valmont in San Miguel de Allende, MX. She quickly made friends in San Miguel, enjoying art lessons, theatre, ballroom dancing, local excursions, and entertaining visitors from the United States.
In 2017 Valerie moved to Georgia with her sister Carolyn, where she succumbed to the unrelenting disease – Alzheimer’s – on February 25, 2024.
Valerie was a loving, kind, compassionate lady who never spoke an unkind word about anyone.
Valerie is survived by her sister, Carolyn Hagler of Lawrenceville, GA, her nieces, and nephews – Scott Hagler of Bulverde, TX, Jeanne Hagler Manning of Opelika, AL; David Hagler of Lawrenceville, GA; her namesake, Valarie Anne Hagler of Milton, FL; Kristen Brickner of Hoschton, GA and Bill Gurley of Rumford, as well as 12 great nieces and nephews. Valerie is also survived by her longtime companion, Monty Dennison of Seattle, Washington.
Preceding Valerie in death was her brother, William Scott Gurley, of Silver Springs, NV, deceased: 13 July 2020
Valerie was the daughter of Edith Z. Scott Gurley and William F. Gurley, buried respectively in North Beverly Cemetery and Rowley Cemetery.
In accordance with Valerie’s wishes, her ashes will be scattered on Plum Island, Newburyport,
Massachusetts; the place where she found comfort and solace in her youth, and upon succeeding visits “home.”
She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.
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Valerie was fortunate to have met and collaborated with Mr. Monty Dennison of Seattle, Washington whose miles-wide heart and unselfish care always accompanied her in her final years.
For the friends who knew them both, it was clear who and what kept Valerie going in a positive social direction despite all. It can be truthfully said that Monty lengthened and enriched her life in the greyest of times when new challenges were daily events for Val. Val’s laugh, walking gait and crackling sense of rye humor will be missed. All of her Seattle-San Miguel friends hope Valerie found an easy peace with grace in the end. It would be fitting.