Alice Mae Valdez

Alice Mae Valdez, born Maria Alicia Maestas on March 1, 1943 in Alcalde, New Mexico, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on the morning of January 11, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her parents Amarante and Agueda Maestas, siblings Nicomedas (Nick) Maestas, Juvencio (Hoover) Maestas, Jose Nelson Maestas, Flora Vialpando, Bob Maestas, Richard (Dickie) Maestas.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Eduardo B. Valdez, Sr., sister Pressie Abeyta, children Amy (James) Bollinger, Damon (Anna) Valdez, Eduardo B. Valdez, Jr. (Charlie). Grandchildren Alicia Valdez, Caitlin (Brody) Duff, Joshua Valdez, Jessica Valdez, Ian Bollinger. Great-grandchildren Janiya and Daniel. God-daughter Jamie Higginson, God-son Timothy Skelley, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Alice moved to Kenilworth, Utah when she was two months old and later moved to Layton, Utah and graduated from Davis High School in 1962. She then went on to earn a degree from Stevens-Henager Business College in 1964. In 1983, she graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and in 2011she earned a medical transcription certificate from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.

Amongst all these achievements includes her 60-year marriage to her loving husband, Ed. Alice and Ed have a very special love story that has lasted since before 1966. The loving couple met through a series of letters written as a prank to Ed while he was stationed in Germany while in the Army. Alice started writing to Ed and it turned into a romance, he proposed without ever meeting in person. He flew in from leave in mid-December, met in person for the first time and was married two weeks later and moved back to Germany where he was stationed.

With their 3 children and the family they have grown, Alice and Ed celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary January 8, 2026.

Alice overcame various challenges and nuisances, such as her 3 wonderful children. And despite what many saw as a disability, she found a way to help and encourage others to tackle everyday life.

After 22 years as an Army wife, Ed retired from the Army and moved to Independence, Missouri and Alice started a new career. During this time, she worked as a Rehabilitation Teacher for the Blind for the State of Kansas for 20 years, 1984-2004. She was also served as the President and treasurer for the Progressive Council for the Blind, a member of the American Council for the Blind, President and member of the Legion of Mary, First Communion and Sunday school teacher at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. She loved to travel, read, listen to music and watch football. She had a true gypsy heart; her bags were always packed and ready to go.

She will be remembered as an intelligent, independent, hard working woman who had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humor, loved adventure, an unwavering faith in God and a great capacity to love and relate to people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.