Valerie Willmore

Valerie Janine Willmore of Fairview, TN, formerly of Tower Hill, IL passed away and went to heaven to be with her savior on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at home, surrounded by her family. Valerie was born March 18, 1965 in Pana, IL, the daughter of Robert L. and Janis M. Glick Wood of Tower Hill, IL.Valerie married Randall Lane Willmore on January 5, 1985 in Shelbyville, IL. Valerie and Randy were blessed with two children, Kassandra Jean and Logan Lee Willmore, both at home. She attended Lakeland College where she played volleyball, and then graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1988 with a degree in education, majoring in biology with a minor in mathematics. Subsequently, she received her Masters of Education from SIU Edwardsville. She taught in Greenview and O'Fallon, IL, where she also coached volleyball. Upon moving to Tennessee with her family in 2004, Valerie began teaching at Fairview High School, where she taught ardently until her death.Valerie was a loving mother and wife, and a dedicated teacher. She had a lifelong love for nature and animals. Growing up on a farm in Illinois, she and her mother raised and showed goats for 4-H. She enjoyed playing volleyball and carried this passion into college. She also followed her dream of becoming a teacher and volleyball coach. Pursuing her love of animals, she bred Beagles, Weimaraners and owned horses. Valerie spent every spare moment with her family. She loved riding horses with her daughter and was extremely close to her son; she spent countless hours cooking with him and enjoying their mutual interests. She was an immensely proud mother of both her children. Valerie loved taking motorcycle trips with her husband and going to motorcycle rallies with their close friends, the "Usual Suspects."Valerie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Donald L. and Thelma Louise Kasey Wood, Victor A. and Sarah M. Godfrey Glick, nephew, Blake Robert Wood, father-in-law, Kenneth L. Willmore; and in-laws, Myra and Jim Utley.Valerie is survived by her husband, Randall Lane Willmore; her children, Kassandra Jean Willmore and Logan Lee Willmore of Fairview, TN; parents, Robert L. and Janis M. Wood; siblings, Katrina (Kent) Griffith and Brian (Ramona) Wood of Tower Hill IL; mother in-law, Martha Willmore of Collinsville, IL; in-laws Sandy (David) Jacober of Placita, NM, Patty (Rick) Mueller of Clermont, FL and Keith Willmore and fiancée, Carla Prewitt of Collinsville, IL; nieces and nephews, Megan (Matt) Cagle and Rachel (Bryan) Bell of Washington, IL, Hannah (Zach) Jepsen of Champaign, IL, Quincey (Whitney) Wood of Shelbyville, IL, Sarah Jacober and fiancée, Tucker Spitzer of Austin, TX, Ben Jacober of Chicago, IL, Erin Barnett and partner, Tiffany Joslin of Nashville, TN, Blake (Gabriella) Barnett of Titusville, FL, Nathaniel Utley and Alex Willmore of Collinsville, IL; and great nieces and nephews, Micah Cagle, Ephram and Addison Wood, Leni Barnett, Eliana and Skylar Barnett.A celebration of life service will be held at 7 P.M., Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Fairview High School Gymnasium, 2595 Fairview Boulevard, Fairview, TN 37062A celebration of life service will also be held at 2 P.M., Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Tower Hill Christian Church, 103 Ontario Street, Tower Hill, IL 62571.