Valerie Jean Samuels

Valerie Jean Samuels, age 67, of Reed City, Michigan, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2026, at home under the loving care of her family and Corewell Health Hospice.

The daughter of Kenneth Eugene and Betty Jean (Russ) Samuels, she was born on September 11, 1958, in Reed City. She graduated from Reed City High School in 1977. On September 14, 2018, in Big Rapids, she married Bruce Edward Doty II.

Valerie retired from Rexair in Cadillac after 27 years of dedicated service, retiring in 2020. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed learning about health and healthy living. Valerie also had a special love for dogs. She found great joy in caring for her home, tending to her plants, and spending time with her family. Her kindness and her gift for making things beautiful showed in everything she did, from her garden to her home. She could visualize beautiful things and bring them to life. If the people she loved ever asked her for help, she would be there without hesitation. She will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and the love she shared with those around her.

Valerie was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth Eugene and Betty Jean Samuels.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce Edward Doty II; her children, Aaron (Bobbi) Sims, Clayton (Dorey) Sims, and Clifford (Angel) Sims; her stepchildren, Kassie (Blake) Nienhuis and Kevin (Shea) Doty; her 13 grandchildren; her brothers, Ken (Thelma) Samuels, Brian (Jackie) Samuels, and Mark (Robin) Samuels; and her sisters, Macie (Simon Kamalay) McCall and Angela (JJ) Samuels-Henson.

A celebration of life will be held at the Reed City Depot on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Valerie be made to the CJD Foundation (https://cjdfoundation.org/donations/).

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Valerie’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen’s Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, 616-754-5638.