Valerie Jane Hewson Wright, age 54, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Baylor University Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
Valerie was born in Summit, N.J. on November 1, 1964, All Saint’s Day. Like the saint she was, she cared for and educated people around her with love and faith. Valerie was one of three children to Dr. George F. Hewson and Wallis Houk Hewson.
After eight wonderful years growing up in Madison, New Jersey, she continued her adolescent years in Tucson, Arizona. Valerie graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1982. She went on to get her nursing degree from The University of Arizona in 1986. On, May 24th 1986, Valerie married Roy Wright whom she met at The University of Arizona. Together they had two children, Katherine and Kevin Wright.
Valerie worked as a surgical nurse for many years in Arizona, California, and Texas. Most recently, she was a school nurse at McKinney Boyd High School in Texas and a surgical nurse at Surgical Arts Surgery Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Valerie loved being a part of a medical team helping people.
In 2011, Valerie was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. After battling the disease into remission she made it her life’s work to encourage, empower and mentor all cancer fighters and survivors from the psychological and physical effects of cancer and its treatment.
In 2012 she founded the V For Victory Foundation, Inc. and invented the “Victory Pouch”, a pouch to carry drain reservoirs after surgery for breast cancer patients. Such a simple device has made a big difference in the recovery of so many women. Through the cancer community she was involved with various projects such as The Buddy Project, Camp Keseem, Hope Cancer Resource Center, Relay for Life and METAvivor.
Valerie Hewson Wright is survived by her husband of 32 years, Roy Wright; her children, Katherine Wright (28) and Kevin Wright (24); her parents, Dr. George and Wallis Hewson; brother, Kim Hewson (his fiancée, Kathryn Morrison); nephews, Robin and Daniel Hewson, brother, Mark Hewson (Jessica Zimmerman) and nephews, Jackson and Grant Hewson; mother-in-law, Susan Biglione; father-in-law, Everett Wright; sister-in-law, Julie (Wright) Schulte (Luke Schulte); and niece, Holli Morris.
Valerie is loved by friends around the world for her thoughtful, fun-loving and caring spirit.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 4, 2019 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 110 St. Gabriel Way, McKinney, Texas 75071. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. A rosary is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. Interment is pending at Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road, Durango, Colorado 81301.
Memorials may be made in Valerie Wright’s name to the METAvivor Foundation for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research.