Valerie Sue Graham was born on May 12, 1956, in Fort Scott, Kansas, and departed this life on July 13, 2026, in the very town where her story began, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a woman of Christian faith, a faithful soul whose days were marked by kindness, wisdom, and selfless devotion, and whose memory shall remain a light in the hearts of all who knew her. She was the beloved wife of Thomas S. Graham, and together they walked through the seasons of life with steadfast devotion and uncommon grace.
Valerie was preceded in death by her parents, Frank D. Greenfield and Joan G. Karleskint Greenfield, whose love and guidance helped shape the character of the woman she became. She was one of five children with whom four remain to survive her: Joel Greenfield, Kathleen North, Mary Hymer, and Donna Craven, with whom she shared the bonds that time could not diminish. Valerie was the loving mother of Ethan D. Hart of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Jennifer R. Hart. She was a devoted grandmother to Sgt. Cameron Harper of the United States Air Force, Evan Hart of Reedsport, Oregon, Juliet Hart, Illiana Graham, Autumn Graham, Addison Graham, and Klaire Graham, all of Fort Scott, Kansas. She was also blessed to know the joy of great-grandmotherhood through Ember Schellack of Fort Scott, Kansas. In all these relationships, she gave of herself without reserve, and her family was ever the treasure of her heart.
Her life was one of labor, learning, and enterprise. In her early years she worked waiting tables and cleaning, and in time she rose to become a business owner in her mid-thirties while also helping take care of her parents’ needs for years. When a new chapter opened before her, she and her husband Tom worked together transporting prisoners for law enforcement, serving as a team with diligence and resolve. Yet her greatest work was not found in title or trade, but in the building of a home and sanctuary at the “Graham Ranch” — Lake Fort Scott, where her family might feel loved, secure, and held within a haven of peace. There, among raising horses and creating unforgettable memories, she fashioned a legacy not of wealth, but of belonging, and for more than twenty-five years she and Tom raised the grandchildren, two of which they later adopted as their own children, giving them shelter, guidance, and the steady comfort of a mother’s and father’s love.
Valerie pursued education with uncommon purpose, studying Criminal Justice at Fort Scott Community College and earning a 4.0 grade point average. Her excellence was further honored by her membership in the National Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa, tokens of her discipline and bright mind. She proved that it is never too late to seek knowledge, and that wisdom, when joined to humility, becomes a noble crown.
She found delight in the simple and sacred things of life. She loved gardening and labored to beautify her yard, planting in her flower beds and tending to her many house plants with patient care. She delighted in sharing her knowledge and great wisdom about life, offering counsel with honesty and tenderness. She cherished the Friday night card games at James and Joyce’s house, where fellowship and laughter made the evening merry. Above all, she loved caring for children and spoiling them, for she believed with all her heart that the children were innocent babes who needed protection, tenderness, and love most of all. She often said, “The little ones are innocent babes, and they need us the most. It is my purpose to make them feel safe and loved.” In that saying, her whole spirit may be known.
Those who knew Valerie remember her as a class act unto the very end, a woman whose unwavering love, support, kindness, and integrity never failed her. She moved through life with a quiet strength and a noble bearing, and in her presence, many found comfort, counsel, and peace. Her passing leaves an ache that words cannot fully heal, yet her life leaves behind a far greater gift, for she taught by example how to love well, endure faithfully, and serve with grace. Though death has claimed her earthly form, the goodness she sowed shall endure in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, and all who were blessed to stand within the circle of her love.
A celebration of Valerie’s life will take place at 4:00 PM Wednesday, July 22nd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will take place at a later date at the U.S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas Sheriff’s Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
