Valorie Jane Kabella

Valorie Jane Kabella, 63, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on April 3 at Presbyterian Hospital and Medical Center in Albuquerque. She was born on October 23, 1961, in Tucson, Arizona to Jack Wendell Kabella and Joan Mary (McCabe) Kabella. They both preceded her in death.

Valorie was graduated in 1981 from Highland High School in Albuquerque. Her father was a rancher which inspired her interest and love of horses at an early age. She may have been riding before she could walk. Throughout her youth, she competed at a high level in New Mexico Horse Shows Association (NMHSA) and New Mexico Quarter Horse Association (NMQHA) competitions. When Valorie was seven years old she won the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Finals in Western Pleasure.

In 1972, Valorie was the High Point Western Pleasure Award winner in the 12-14 age group for the New Mexico Horse Shows Association (NMHSA). She also placed second that year in the Stock Seat Equitation category. The awards didn’t stop there. She also placed first in 1972 as the High Point Western Pleasure winner in the 11 and under category for the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association (NMQHA). Valorie competed in Halter, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Western Horsemanship, English Equitation, and Showmanship.

While in high school and for a period after graduation, Valorie worked at Four Hills Country Club in Albuquerque. That’s when her fun-loving personality began to emerge. Or, as one person describes those days, “That’s when the shenanigans began.”

Valorie would go on to spend much of her career as a Market Asset Protection Manager for Walmart Stores across several states. She especially loved her times in Idaho and Utah. She spent almost 30 years with Walmart. Valorie had an opinion on how to fix everything and if Walmart didn’t have it you probably didn’t need it anyway. Mention something and the answer would always be “check Walmart”. She loved her Walmart family.

Valorie couldn’t stand a dishonest person or someone who didn’t tell the truth. No doubt Jesus has her at the Gates of Heaven in charge of truth and asset protection.

After her retirement, she enjoyed cooking and taking long road trips to visit family and friends. Most of all she loved to eat, eat and then eat, especially cheeseburgers, French fries, New Mexican foods, and she had to have her Starbucks coffee.

Her hobbies included hanging out with family and friends, photography and of course eating. She loved MAGA and the Republican Party. And she would either watch or listen to Fox News at every opportunity.

Valorie is survived by her brother J. Vance Kabella of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and two sisters Sonja Ann (Oscar Philip) Mills of Hudson Oaks, Texas, and Janine Marie (Brant) Kabella of Albuquerque. She’s also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Valorie was known and loved among family and friends for being fearlessly loyal, with tremendous personal strength, resilience and perseverance. She was tough in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Yet, behind that strong façade that so many admired and respected was her fun side. She loved to tease people and would grin every time she started a round of good-natured banter. If you chose to go up, she would choose to go down. If you went left, she would invariably go right. If you chose to support a particular sports team, you could bet she would fully support the opposing team even if she’d never heard of them. She might ask you to watch for road signs and keep her updated. Then when you said something, she would say she already knew that. So, when you didn’t mention it again, she’d harass you for keeping quiet.

All in the name of good-natured banter. The old phrase “don’t poke sleeping dog”. Well, you can bet Valorie was the first one there with a stick.

From North Carolina to Idaho down to New Mexico, nobody was tougher, enjoyed life, fought harder to stay alive, or could put a smile on your face quicker than Valorie. She will be remembered for loving life, honesty, and commitment to family and friends. She never wanted to be a burden on anyone. She lived her life fearlessly independent. Valorie did things “her way” and never openly complained about the courage it took to merely survive. As more than one person said about her, “She was the toughest person I’ve ever known.”

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 7, 2025, at Legacy Church – East Campus, 4701 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109. Pastors Tony Ramirez and Barry Bitzer will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Valorie’s Kabella’s name to Legacy Church – Central Campus, 7201 Central Avenue NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121.