||| FROM SUSAN BINFORD |||
Valerie Binford
Valerie Binford, 83, a long-time resident of Orcas Island, passed away Tuesday, October 15, at her home in Deer Harbor, WA. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother (Nana), friend, colleague and innkeeper, Valerie has a forever place in the hearts of many.
Among those were her husband of 33 years Charles Binford; her son Brad Megerle; step-daughter Susan and daughter-in-law Lynne Wiggins; two grandchildren Maddie and Zac; sister Celeste and her partner Lenore; nephew Matt; and her four-legged Orcas pals – Max, Maggie, Baylen, Tochi, Coco, Bruno, Pasha and Hoshi.
Valerie moved to Orcas in 1996, where she and Charles opened The Place at Cayou Cove in Deer Harbor in 1997. Throughout its 18 years of operation, the Inn played host to thousands of guests, garnering national recognition from such publications as Conde’ Nast, Sunset and Travel & Leisure. It was awarded the prestigious “Andre Harper Travel
Bed and Breakfast of the Year” in 2005. Valerie enjoyed entertaining and providing exceptional, intimate service to her Cayou Cove guests, especially morning breakfasts and afternoon wine and cheese offerings on the front porch, with many returning year after year and becoming life-long friends.
Over the years on Orcas, Valerie served on the board of the Deer Harbor Community Club and was an active volunteer for the Orcas Island Public Library and the Orcas Island Historical Museum.
Valerie Valliquette was born in 1941 in Chicago, moved with her family to California, eventually settling in Arizona. Valerie’s lifelong passion was architecture and interior design, which she studied at Arizona State College. She ultimately had a successful career in business accounting, rising to the position of Business Accounts Manager at
Johnson & Higgins insurance brokerage firm in New York City in the early 80’s. She married Charles Binford in 1984 and during his work with Johnson & Higgins, they resided in Australia and Japan over the next decade, before retirement brought them to Orcas Island in 1996.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to the following in Valerie Binford’s name: Deer Harbor Community Club, P.O. Box 57 Deer Harbor, WA 98245; Orcas Animal Protection Society, www.orcaspets.org 360-376-6777; or Orcas Island Public Library www.orcaslibrary.org 360-376-4985.
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I love you, Valerie, my dearest, more than special best friend. I know your pure and simple kindness, your incredible intelligence, your immense compassion, your deep love for animals, your lovely sense of humour. And I remember your superhuman willpower when you lifted your 100 pound drowning dog out of the tide pool while perched on slippery rocks. And so I have to add brave and strong to my list. I’m sorry I stole your French fries just the other week, thanks for forgiving me. Smiles I miss you beyond belief.