Valerie Diane Cowls Govig, 87, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at The Laurels of Pender in Burgaw.

She was born September 4, 1934 in Portland, OR, the daughter of Thomas Ewart Cowls and Charlene Endicott Cowls and was the apple of their eye. In addition to her parents Valerie was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Emerson Govig.

Valerie is survived by her daughters, Kari Honeycutt (Stephen) and Dana Miceli (Steve); grandchildren, Valerie Miller (Bob Perryman), Grant Cress, Nat Cress, David Derry, and Tom Derry (Terry); and great grandchildren, Angel, Dustin, Mikayla, Mekenna, Adrianna, and Andrea.

Valerie was the Portland Rose Festival Princess in the late 1950's and graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in English and Art. Always creative, she fell in love with kites as art, sport, and science while attending a festival in Carmel, California. From that enthusiasm sprung the Maryland Kite Festival, the Maryland Kite Society, and over 20 years of her publication "Kite Lines" magazine. She loved history, reading, and writing long letters. She was a stickler for detail and had impeccable spelling and grammar. She also had a keen eye for photography and art.

Valerie Govig will be laid to rest with a remembrance service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 in Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Timonium, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maryland Kite Society, 10113 Lloyd Road, Potomac, MD 20854 wwwmdkite.org OR to the American Kite Fliers Association, P.O. Box 699, Cedar Ridge, CA  95924 www.kite.org

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall.

Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Burgaw.