Valerie Winstanley was born in Port Angeles, Washington on January 11, 1955. She was taken from us by a massive stroke on January 9, 2018, at the age of 62 in Astoria, Oregon surrounded by her family.
She was the fifth child of Clifford Raymond and Evelyn Viola Block Chittim. She lived in Port Angeles until she was 6, then moved with her family to Fairbanks, Alaska. In 1963, the family moved to Seaside, Oregon where Valerie spent all her school years at Seaside’s Central School, Broadway Middle School, then graduating from Seaside High School in 1973.
She married Mark Winstanley on August 18, 1973 and they moved to Corvallis, Oregon. In 1985, they moved back to Seaside and resided in the area ever since. Both of her children, Melissa and Mitchell, grew up in Seaside.
Valerie was a fun loving person. Some of her favorite pastimes included clamming, walking on the beach, and picking mushrooms and berries. Her excitement whenever the weather forecast would include a good thunderstorm reinforced why she never wanted to live anywhere else except her little spot in Surf Pines.
She was also an amazing cook! She was so happy to have her three grandsons so close by to cook with and to take on hikes. She will be fondly remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
Valerie is survived by her husband of 45 years, Mark Winstanley; her daughter, Melissa Bilyeu (Jeffrey) of Warrenton, Oregon; son, Mitchell Winstanley of Monmouth, Oregon; three grandsons, Adam, Alexander and Zachary Bilyeu of Warrenton, Oregon; sisters Ina Rae Ussack (Bill) of Sequim, Washington, Carol Anne Gates (John) of Warrenton, Oregon, and Lee Ellen Brown of Seaside, Oregon; and brother, Gene Lewis Chittim of Portland, Oregon; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins who loved her and shall miss her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
In keeping with Valerie’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to honor her memory to the: Reading Outreach for Clatsop County (ROCC); or to the Seaside Library, Seaside, Oregon. Funeral arrangements by Hughes-Ransom Mortuaries & Crematory, Seaside & Astoria, OR. Please visit the online memorial tribute at www.hughes-ransom.com and www.facebook.com/hughesransommortuary to sign the guestbook, upload a photo, video and/or share a favorite memory.
