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Valorie Burr Obituary



Valorie A. Burr, 61, a resident of Odenton, MD, passed away at her home on January 21, 2015. She was the beloved wife of Peter T. Burr, Sr., loving mother of Douglass C. Burr and Erica L. Bovaird, loving stepmother of Mary Burr Davie and Pete Burr, Jr., cherished grandmother to seven and great-grandmother to one. She is also survived by her mother, Mary Joann Harrison and her father, Robert L. Brittingham. Valorie was a sweet, loving, caring, and generous person. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 12:00-2:00 PM 4:00-6:00 PM at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy. (Rte. 3 South), Bowie, MD 20715. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to The Wellness House of Annapolis: www.annapoliswellnesshouse.org

Published by The Capital Gazette on Jan. 25, 2015.
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Erica and Family,

May Val's memories bring you heartwarming joy, lasting peace and may her infectious laugh creep up on you and cause a spontaneous smile.

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers,

GSFC Coaching Community

Tina Frizzell-Jenkins

February 2, 2015

Met Val years ago at a training conference about the time Douglas and Erica were getting ready for their 16th birthday. Time flies huh? That meeting started a friendship full of smiles, laughter, and great memories. I do so miss the Friday night Karaoke sessions or playing board games. Pete and I would be partners at Trivial Pursuit. Val would just laugh her head off because Pete and I were the Science Geeks who could pull off a win by knowing some obscure techno minutia. Her laughter was contagious and to know Val was to love her. The world has lost a kind and true spirit. May she rest in peace.

Stan Walkowski

January 28, 2015

You will be missed dear friend. God Bless. Prayers for Peter and her family. Much love.

January 27, 2015

On Wednesday morning, my dear sweet friend, Valorie Burr, lost her valiant fight with brain and lung cancer. What this ugly disease did to such a vibrant woman is unfathomable. Even with all the symptoms and treatments Val endured, she displayed such fortitude, grace, and humor. She continued to live life to the fullest until the very end.

All of the sentiments expressed after Val's passing would embarrass her to no end. She would be flattered, of course, but her attention was always on others. If she could, she would tell all of us who loved her to stop crying and grieving. She'd be the first to say, "Get together, have a party, talk about all the great times we've shared, tell funny stories, and for goodness sakes, laugh!" That's how she'd like to have her life celebrated. So tomorrow at her wake, I know there will be tears. But there will also be "Val stories" that will make us laugh. She'd like that.

If I could use only one word to describe Val, it would be "authentic." She was so genuine, warm, and good hearted. Val was never out to impress. As beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside - to know her was to love her. She served as a role model at work, at home, and in her personal life. Geez - it's so difficult to talk about her in the past tense.

Positive character traits are those things that draw us to other people. When someone is generous, kind, energetic, or optimistic they exude energy that attracts others. Of course, who wouldn't want to spend time with a warm, open, and loving person? That was the way people felt about Val.

We attended high school together and years later shared an office while working for NASA. Val was in my wedding party and hosted my wedding party dinner. We have enjoyed a special and unique friendship that has spanned several decades. I often told her we'd be friends forever because we knew all of each other's secrets! Many of you have perhaps heard the quote "a good friend will come and bail you out of jail, but a best friend will be sitting in the cell with you, saying 'damn, that was fun'!" That was Val and me. A somewhat ironic way to describe our friendship since I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 20 years, but I always thought this quote was so funny!

Val lit up every room she entered with her vibrant personality and infectious laugh. She was intelligent and quick witted - how she could make me laugh! She used humor during good and tough times. After her cancer diagnosis, I truly believe that she was here on earth with us longer than expected because of her zest for life, positive attitude, and sense of humor.

I took Valorie to many of her chemo and radiation treatments and several cancer support events. What an inspiration! Val showed so much courage and grace during her fight with this awful disease. In spite of numerous brain and lung tumors, intense radiation, and chemo treatments (not to mention the side effects of her illness and treatment), she remained positive. She was upbeat, making friends along the way, joking with the staff, and living life to the fullest. I remember when she lost every single hair on her entire body from her cancer treatments but found one long hair on her chin. She told that story in such a humorous way, that I laughed until I cried. As a cancer patient myself, I learned from her how to meet it head on. She had bad days, of course. Who wouldn't? So there were certainly times we cried together, but much more often we laughed together.

I have way too many precious memories to list here. Playing on volleyball and softball teams together. Bowling league. Bridge every Thursday night at her house. Playing practical jokes (now, there are some stories!). Getting together to eat dinner and play games - she especially loved trivia games. Going out with friends and making fools of ourselves singing karaoke. We even sang in a couple of wedding ceremonies. Along the way, I fell in love with her family and have wonderful memories that will last me a lifetime.

Val loved to entertain in her home and was a fantastic cook. She was just plain fun. And that energy!!! I don't know where it came from. I wish I could have bottled and sold it.

Val not only listened when you talked to her, she heard what you said. She always gave sound, practical advice. She was extremely supportive and always there for me when I needed her. She was a generous, loyal friend to many.

I was blessed to spend quality time with Val right up until the end. We emailed almost daily during the last year, participated in activities at the Annapolis Wellness House (for cancer patients and their families), and visited. In fact, just days before she died, a few of us gathered in her family room with a karaoke machine. She was laying in a hospital bed, too physically weak to do anything on her own but mentally alert. She held a mic and softly sang along with us. She was smiling the entire time.

Val was the best friend a girl could have and I have many wonderful memories to treasure. I will miss her gorgeous smile, the sound of her laugh, those incredibly captivating eyes, and most of all, her friendship.

Valorie died much too young, but lived her life wonderfully. She will be forever cherished. I love you, Val.

Abby Dunne

January 27, 2015

Val… My heart bleeds for you for your struggle and its with great sadness that we let you go.

In doing the math, I realize you were just a couple years older than Erica is now when we first met 25 years ago - my first days at NASA GSFC.

I believe you created a flower in giving life to her, just as you were - full of beauty and radiance. You have impacted many of us, or perhaps all of us, who knew you by your big, bright smile, twinkling eyes, and zest for life and joy.

May peace be with you and your loved ones.

Marguerite Broadwell

January 26, 2015

This hits home. I knew Val from school, we worked together at Robert Hall's in Beltway Plaza and again years later at NASA/GSFC. She was secretary on SMM Project and I was Secretary on MMS Project. She married Pete Burr who I also knew working at NASA. I can't say enough good things about her. She was true blue. Always seemed happy, always a smile on her face. God Bless you Valorie. God Bless those she left behind.

Phyllis Forney-Wolfinger

January 24, 2015

R.I.P. dear friend, your sweet sole will be missed by many.

paula queen(ferrina)

January 24, 2015

Valorie is a large and good part of my teen memories. She was so sweet and such a positive friend. Love and prayers to her family.

Cynthia Ham5

January 24, 2015

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