Her Story

Valerie Ann Conkling Craft, born July 18, 1958, in Midland, Texas, passed away on April 21, 2026 — leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, strength, and transformation that will live on for generations.

Valerie made her home in Conroe, Texas, where she built a life centered on serving others and honoring her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her faith was not simply something she believed — it was the very foundation of who she was. She lived it boldly, loved through it endlessly, and gave through it without hesitation.

Family

A loving family.

She is lovingly remembered by her brother, Russell Conkling; her sister, Sheila Wellspring; her children, Solomons Waters, Craig Craft, Conrad Craft, Christopher Craft, and Carolyn Hall; her grandchildren, Graysen Craft, Nicole Craft, Brianna Craft, Oakley Craft, Ethan Hall, Logan Hall, Aaron Hall and Jayden Hall, Ashley Callas, Sasha Callas, Jordan Callas; and her great-grandchild, Allanah Matthis.

Each of them carries a piece of her spirit, her strength, and her unwavering love.

Depth

A woman of remarkable depth.

Valerie served faithfully at Compassion United and in many other ministries, pouring her heart into helping others find hope and healing. She was a gifted teacher, a world traveler, an accomplished businesswoman, and a woman of many skills — among them a master gardener, master herbalist, holistic healer, and wood artist. She was even known as an exceptional marksman, a testament to her focus and determination.

Those who knew her best would say she was a woman without boundaries and very open-minded, traveling to Thailand eight times to study traditional Asian medicine and to share precious moments with her son Sol and his Thai family.

Love

The way she loved.

Yet beyond all of her accomplishments, Valerie will be remembered most for the way she loved. She sacrificed endlessly for her family, always placing others before herself. She had a rare and powerful gift for seeing people, truly seeing them, and loving them in a way that brought healing and change. To know Valerie was to be impacted by her — she didn’t just touch lives, she transformed them.

Her life was a reflection of grace in action, faith in motion, and love without limits.

Though her absence leaves an immeasurable void, the legacy she leaves behind is one of light, compassion, and unwavering devotion. We take comfort in knowing that she is now at peace, embraced in the presence of the Lord she loved so deeply.