Valerie Jean Manning

Valerie Jean (Olsen) Manning passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025. Val's cremation was a few days later on her birthday, she would have been 73 years of age. Val was preceded in death by her father, Harold Eugene Olsen (before she was born), her mother, Regina Josephine Gillespie, and two brothers. Survived by her husband, Mark (of almost 25 years); children, Thomas (Tiger) Barrett, Rachelle (Rikki) Wall, Shane Barrett, and step-son, Marc Manning. Also surviving are 3 brothers, 3 sisters, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Born and raised in the Price/Helper area of Utah in her youth, then relocating to the Provo/Orem area as an adolescent, Valerie eventually relocated to Salt Lake City where she worked as a bartender/waitress at Rocky's and the Westerner. Valerie also worked in the construction industry, eventually starting her own business in new residential construction cleanup.

Valerie relocated to Phoenix Arizona in May 2000, where she resumed her career as a bartender/waitress at the El Alamo in Glendale, where she met her husband Mark. Shortly after their wedding, Valerie started her full-time business, Val's Cleaning Service which she plied at for the next 21 years, until her retirement.

Valerie was a highly spiritual person, her priorities were: God, husband, family, country (being a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for the past 21 years).

A Celebration of Life will be from 10:00-12:00, Monday, July 28, 2025 at the American Legion Hall, Post 29, 6821 N 58th Drive, Glendale Arizona. The Celebration of Life will be an informal "open-house" format where family and friends are encouraged to mingle and share their stories/experiences of/with Valerie. A light lunch will be available.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation, in Valerie's name, to Animal Welfare League, 25 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034, https://aawl.org (Arizona's oldest and largest no-kill shelter).