Valeria Denise Simonis, 70, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Valeria was born on March 9, 1934, at Baker City to John and Irma Williams Macy. Her family lived at
Jacksonville until she was in the fourth grade, when they returned to Baker City.
She married Keith Simonis at Elko, Nev., in 1950. They made their home at North Powder until their divorce.
At that time, she and her children moved to Hermiston, where she went to work as a cook for various restaurants. Wanting to be near her cousin, she and the family moved to The Dalles. She worked as a cook, opening her own cafe near her home.
She later worked for R&R Drafting as a drafts person. She worked there for nine years. After leaving R&R, she opened her own ceramic shop in her former cafe. She operated the shop for five years until she decided to “see the world,” moving to North Carolina with friends.
After surviving several hurricanes, she decided to come back to Eastern Oregon to retire. She lived at Hermiston, and was the treasurer of her retirement community for many years. She was very proud of this accomplishment.
Because of her failing health, she returned home in Baker City in October of 2004.
Valeria loved making porcelain dolls and made all of their clothing. She enjoyed creating beautiful things. She loved her birds and owned a cockatiel and parakeet.
She was a hard worker and raised her children through difficult times with love. When Valeria was mad, she was mad all over, but the same applied when she loved, and she loved her children. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her children, Linda Burnside and her husband, Wayne, of Baker City, Suzanne Travis and her husband, Ted, of Prineville, Randy Simonis of Hermiston, Bobby Simonis of Monroe, Wash., and Jeanna Valencia and Lori Jo Horn, both of Hermiston; a brother, Glenn Macy, and his wife, Jane, of Mountain Home, Idaho; a close cousin, Neil Rogerson of Molalla; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and one niece and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a twin sister, who died at birth.
Memorial contributions may be made to Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814 to help the family with her funeral expenses.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 3, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor