Valerie Waters

Valerie Clair Waters, 66, of Etowah, TN, died November 18, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Marden Waters and Gloria Tarpley Gienow; and step-father Gordon A. Gienow.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Jim Bagwell; daughter, Andrea Clay (née Mion); son, Thomas Reichelderfer; daughter, Emily Reichelderfer (Alex Grant); brother, Van (Rae) Waters; step-mother, Marjorie Waters; step-children, Jodi Bagwell and Jake (Mandy) Bagwell; step-grandchildren, Trent Bagwell and Mattie Bagwell; step-niece, Erika Valdes, and step-nephews, Chris Valdes and Dakota Aspinwall.

Born January 27, 1958 in Fulton County, GA, Valerie longed to retire to the rural mountains and was able to make that dream a reality and found her greatest peace and happiness in recent years with Jim. Those who knew Valerie can attest to her fiercely independent spirit and her love of animals and nature. An avid reader and articulate writer, she shared a quick wit and merciless banter with her children and loved ones and will be greatly missed.

Those who knew and loved Valerie know that she was never one for pomp and circumstance, and in accordance with her wishes, there will be no formal service. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Pound Puppies 'N Kittens rescue in Loganville, GA, East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue in Knoxville, TN, or McMinn Regional Humane Society in Athens, TN.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Valerie or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.