Valerie Davis died at her home surrounded by her family Friday, April 29, following a battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). She was 47.
She was born July 24, 1968, in Grand Rapids the daughter of John and Marcia (Fancher) Manke. Val attended St. Stan’s Catholic School until the eighth grade and was a 1986 Hopkins High School graduate. She then went on to attend Chic Cosmetology College in Kalamazoo.

On Oct. 14, 1989, at St Stan’s Catholic Church in Hilliards she married James Davis. Val had worked at salons in Dorr and Otsego before opening her own salon in her home once she began her family with Jim. In 2006 she started a day care out of her home and had taken care of many area children over the last 10 years.

Val loved attending her children’s sporting events and was always the loudest cheerleader in the stands. She had been involved with 4-H, post prom, went on many field trips and had helped with the wrestling club.Val helped with all the chores on the farm and was a great cook. She enjoyed going to garage sales, camping every father’s day weekend in Mackinac, collecting shoes and purses, celebrating Christmas with her family; going to the fair, especially  to see the animals and concerts and loved indulging her sweet tooth with peeps and jelly bellies. Val always had a huge smile on her face and loved life.

Surviving are her husband; children, Trevor (Beth Hill) of Parchment, Alyssa of Kalamazoo and Hailey and Alex; her parents of Hilliards; siblings, Linda (Mike) Heppe of Hilliards and John (Kandi) Manke of Hopkins; Jim’s parents, Dick (Sylvia) Davis of Otsego; his siblings, Rick (Tina) Davis, Vicky Kent, Sheri O’Reilly and Julie Kubiak; his grandmother, Anne Davis and her best friend, Kelly Smart.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Friends may visit with Val’s family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 9, at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Otsego with Father Donald Klingler and Deacon Russ Pogodzinski officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego Township.

Contributions in memory of Val may be made to Wings of Hope Hospice or to the CJD Foundation.