Laura Robert Valle, age 85, died May 11, 2007 at DePaul Hospital St. Louis, following the death of her daughter, Anita Valle Mukes (Chum), in Gary, IN on April 29.
Laura was the first of two daughters born to Justin Robert and Inez Narcisse Robert in New Orleans, LA on December 2, 1921. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans at age 16 and earned a BA degree in education at Xavier University of Louisiana at age 20. She married her classmate Robert Valle upon graduation in 1942. The young couple moved to Pine Bluff, AK where Laura’s husband worked as a government chemist and taught at Arkansas AM&N College. In 1948, they moved to St. Louis.
Laura worked for over 35 years as a teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools. She began her teaching career as a primary teacher at Lincoln and then Franklin School. After completing her MAT in Allied Arts at Webster University, she became a traveling art teacher and then joined the staff at Enright Middle School. Then, for more than 20 years after until her retirement in 1988, she taught Textile Design at the Honors Art High School. She was an adjunct faculty member at Harris-Stowe State College and ran a Summer Youth Program at Maryville University.
Laura worked for many years as a leader in the St. Louis Federation of Block Units in her North St. Louis neighborhood and as a member of the advisory committee for the Wells-Goodfellow Community Center. She was appointed by St. Louis Mayor Alphonso Cervantes to the Board of Directors of the Human Development Corporation (HDC). She was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the National Community Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity and worked with Sergeant Shriver and others in leading workshops with associated anti-poverty programs nation-wide.
Mrs. Valle was deeply involved in church work, first at St. Nicholas Parish, then at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish where she was a leader in the Mothers’ Club in the early 1950s. At St. Edward King Parish she served as PTA and Parish Council president, and member of the Arts and Environment and Liturgy committees. At St. Alphonsus Liguori (Rock) Parish, she served member of the Liturgy and Arts and Environment Committees and the Elders Council and as producer of the Living Stations of the Cross.
She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Silhouettes, Alpha Upsilon Social Club, the St. Louis Chapter of the National Set Social Club, and the Xavier University Alumni Association.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents Inez and Justin Robert, her grandmother Victoria Narcisse and Aunts Adele M. Narcisse, Anna Prade, Sr. Assumption Narcisse, Sr. Gertrude Narcisse, Mae Narcisse, Uncles Raymond and Victor Narcisse, Sr., Cousins Charlotte Narcisse Ross and Victor Narcisse, Jr. Her daughter Anita Valle Mukes (Chum) passed away twelve days prior to her mother. Laura is survived by her husband of 65 years, Robert J. Valle, Sr., her sister Dorothy Hewlett of Los Angeles, CA, her children Dorothy Valle and Robert J. Valle Jr. of St. Louis, Victoria Valle, of Oakland, CA. and Sharon Valle of Raleigh, NC., 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grand children, a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and other family and friends.
Visitation will be held at St. Alphonsus Liguori (Rock) Catholic Church at 1118 North Grand Blvd. on Thursday May 17 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., followed by a prayer service. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 18 2007 at the same location at 11 a.m. followed immediately by internment at Calvary Cemetery. Funeral arrangement will be handled by Austin Layne Mortuary, Inc.