She was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Althea Hafen; her husband, Jean I.F. King; brothers, Earl Hafen, Norman Hafen and Reginald Hafen; her sister Elaine Briggs.
She is survived by her children Kimmel (Paralee) King of Princeton, Massachusetts, Tancred (Chau) King of Lake Mary, Florida, Gabriel (Muriel) King of Edgewood, New Mexico, Kermit (Alison) King of Chicago, Illinois; 11 grandchildren; her brothers, Richard (Sheron) Hafen of St. George, Utah, Ralph Hafen of St. George, Utah, Gregerson Hafen of Bliss, Idaho; a sister, Gloria (William) Sample of New Paltz, New York.
Valrea graduated from Dixie College where she was Vice President of the student body and President of the Associated Women's Club. At Dixie she studied dance, music and drama and built sweet friendships which have survived many years and miles of separation. Later, at the University of Utah, she was president of Orchesis, a national honorary dance organization. In the summers, Valrea sought work and adventure at Dugway Proving Grounds and with her brother Ralph in Alaska. Following this she pursued her Masters degree in dance at Columbia University in New York.
While at the University of Utah, Valrea met Dr. Jean I. F. King, a theoretical physicist. They wed in 1953 in St. George. Jean was embraced by the St. George Hafens and in time came to embrace the gospel. Together with their four sons, Valrea and Jean were sealed eternally in 1973.
Valrea lived most of her mature years in New England, where she served as stake Relief Society president under four stake presidencies and raised her family. She loved her adopted home, but as she said, kept a bit of red sand in her shoes…
Our mother was indomitable, sweet, adventurous, cheerful, faithful and fiercely loyal to husband, siblings and children. She saw beauty wherever she went, taking equal interest in great art and roadside weeds. She joyfully raised four boys and forgave them for fixing bicycles on the carpet. On any given day she could cheer and uplift a son, a ward sister, a construction worker, a town clerk, a store cashier. To the last her blue eyes shone with their characteristic intelligence and optimism. Her four sons take comfort in her memory and example, in the promise of the resurrection, and in her reunion with the man whom she deeply loved and was loved by.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. in the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT. A visitation will precede the service to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Interment will be in the Saint George City Cemetery
Spilsbury Mortuary
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