Gansevoort

Marilyn Grace Mills Valla, of Gansevoort, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2015, after nearly 5 years of battling colon cancer. She was 69.

Born in Glens Falls on October 26, 1946, Marilyn was the beloved daughter of the late Grace (Butler) Mills and the late Gilbert Burton Mills of Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. She married the love of her life, Edward Valla, on December 3, 1971 at the First Baptist Church of Hudson Falls.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, their son Wade Valla, his wife Krista, and two granddaughters, Grace Valla and Kaitlin Valla; brother Gilbert B. Mills, Jr. and his wife Audrey, all of Gansevoort; and her step-mother Doris Mills of Hudson Falls.

Marilyn was a strong and giving woman, with an attention to detail and an uncompromising work ethic. She carried that strength and conviction throughout her professional career, into her retirement, her personal life, and finally into her battle with cancer. Even as her chemotherapy treatments began, she was most concerned with spreading the word and encouraging others to get screened for the disease.

Marilyn graduated from Fort Edward High School in 1964 and Adirondack Community College in 1966. She went to work immediately after graduation from ACC as Business Office Supervisor for the South Glens Falls Central School District, leaving some 20 years later to work for the BOCES in Saratoga and Albany, assisting school districts in the conversion to computerized records. Once her son entered kindergarten, she returned to college and received a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY-Albany and then a Master’s degree and Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY-Plattsburgh. In 1993, she became the School Business Administrator for the Hadley-Luzerne Central School and retired from there in June, 2004. After retirement, Marilyn served in interim school business official positions in Northville, Mechanicville, and Warrensburg. Her last day of work was September 25, 2009.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hudson Falls, and then the Village Baptist Church of Fort Edward. Always interested in sharing knowledge, she served for a time as Den Mother and Computer Merit Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts of America. She would eventually become a proud Eagle Scout Mother. She was a constant source of encouragement and guidance to her son and husband in their educational, professional, and pass-time pursuits.

Marilyn enjoyed spending time with her family at her Gansevoort home, and at her summer residence in Huletts Landing on Lake George. There she enjoyed boating, relaxing, and casual conversation by the lake shore, watching her grandchildren play, hosting extended family gatherings, rainy day board games, and evening campfires. At various stages in her life, Marilyn’s hobbies included softball, bowling, country dancing, numerous crafts, and especially knitting – a skill she passed on to both granddaughters.

Those granddaughters were her pride and joy, and she enjoyed hosting sleepovers, which often included cycling, hiking, sledding, and snowshoeing adventures. Some of her fondest memories were of family vacations to Disney World in 2008 and 2011, and she dreamed of staying at the Grand Floridian Resort on a future visit.

As per Marilyn’s wishes, calling hours will be held at M. B. Kilmer Funeral Home in South Glens Falls from 4-6pm on Sunday, December 6, 2015. A funeral service will be conducted at 11am on Monday, December 7, 2015 at the funeral home with Rev. Linda Hoeschle of the Village Baptist Church of Fort Edward officiating. Burial will follow in the Gerald B. H. Solomon National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. She will be dearly missed.

The family is grateful for the compassionate care provided by the Oncology Department at Glens Falls Hospital and The Community Hospice of Saratoga and Washington Counties. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Cindy’s Comfort Camp C/O Glens Falls Hospital Foundation 12, Glens Falls, NY 12801, the American Cancer Society Mount Royal Plaza 959 State Rte. 9, Queensbury, NY 12804, or the Moreau Community Center 144 Main Street South Glens Falls, NY 12803.

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