Stephanie Valdez

Stephanie Ann (Stevie) Valdez, 58, passed away peacefully in Yakima on Friday, January 26, 2018. Although her sisters sat bedside with her throughout her hospital stay, she chose to slip away quietly Friday morning, while her daughter held her hand, and they shared a spiritual and emotional bond that can only be shared between a mother and her daughter. Stevie was born on September 2, 1959 to Arnulfo and Aurora Valdez in Toppenish, the youngest of 8 sisters. She was raised and educated in Wapato, graduating from Wapato High School and continuing her education at Trend College. Stevie continued to reside in Wapato, with her companion, Greg Heide, who loved and cared for her until it was time for her to go. Greg and Stevie made the simplest things, such as planning and preparing a meal, getting a routine haircut, and hunting for mushrooms seem like the key to happiness. They took great joy in making sure that the other was taken care of. You would often see them walking arm in arm, so Greg could make sure she made it to the car safely. Many weekends were spent driving to the mountains gathering mushrooms, morels being her favorite. They especially enjoyed traveling to Long Beach on the Fourth of July to watch the firework display on the beach. Stevie was an excellent cook, often treating Greg, her daughter Yasmin and her grandchildren Alejandra and Julian to homemade tortillas, just like her mother Aurora used to. Stevie had numerous friends that she made throughout the years, many through her work at Hartlines Cafe, Tiny’s Tavern, and later as owner of Jean Marie’s Sports Bar. She had a big heart and would lend a hand if ever friends or family needed it. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew and loved her. Stevie is survived by her companion, Greg Heide, her daughter Yasmin (Ramon) Valdez, her grandchildren Julian Reynoso and Alejandra Gonzalez all of Wapato, great-granddaughter Kahea, sisters Ofilya McConville, of Wapato, Delores Capetillo of Toppenish, Juanita Valdez and Toni Farias of Yakima, Rosie Estrada of Seattle, Carmen (Mark) Seagrove of Bellingham, brothers Jesse (Mary) Farias, Arnulfo Valdez Jr., Jackie (Sheila) Valdez, and Clyde (Clancey) Valdez all of Wapato. She is preceded in death by her parents Arnulfo & Aurora Valdez, granddaughter Marisela Reynoso, brother Mario Valdez, sister Louise Farias, sister-in-law Vicki Valdez, brothers-in-law Walter Fitzgibbon, Mathew McConville, & Carlos Capetillo Sr., nephews Arnulfo Valdez III, Mathias McConville, and Adam Albert. A memorial service will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Wapato, Friday, February 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Stephanie Valdez, please visit our flower store.