Valere Anna Boren passed away June 10, 2015, at Houston House in Houston, Mo.
She was born to Roy E. Cooper and Grace Davis Cooper near the village of Raymondville, on Aug. 16, 1920. She spent her entire life in Texas County except when she attended college for a short time in Chicago Heights, Ill., where her husband, Clarence, was employed.
Valere was preceded in death by her mother; her father; her devoted husband; and special step-mother and two brothers.
Valere grew up near rural Raymondville. She and her sister, Thelma, attended a one-room rural school. She attended the two-year high school at Raymondville. She attended Houston High School as a junior and senior, graduating in 1937.
After passing the state teacher’s examination she began teaching grades 1-4 in the same rural school she had attended. Later she graduated at Southwest Missouri State and attended classes at the University of Missouri.
In 1940, she married Clarence Boren at Salem, Mo. After living a short time in Licking, MO, they moved to a farm in Raymondville. Her husband Clarence passed away in 1993.
She taught 40 years in the area schools, Friendship #102, Allred, Licking Elementary and her last 18 years at Houston High School. She loved teaching and believed that each child could achieve.
She enjoyed various hobbies during her lifetime, gardening, sewing, collecting antiques, attending auctions, camping, trail riding and traveling. However her true passion was reading.
She loved her family and encouraged her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to acquire advanced education and make a contribution to the environment and community.
She was a member of the Raymondville United Methodist Church and served in various capacities. She was a board member at Raymondville Senior Housing and also a board member of the Houston Senior Center. She also belonged to numerous professional and community organizations during her lifetime.
She was inducted into Houston educator hall of fame in 2008.
Valere was a “people” person and loved her family, former students, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.
She is survived by her son, Dale Boren of Raymondville, Mo.; two grandchildren, Nick Boren of Fulton, Mo., and Jerri Sue Crump of Raymondville, Mo.; six great-grandchildren, Bradley, Travis and Nathan Sanders and Joshua, Chelsea and Zackary Boren; two great-great grandsons, Jack Boren and Blake Sanders; and one brother, Jackie Ray Cooper.
A private family service will be held Friday, June 12, at Dale and Karen Boren’s residence.
PAID