Her story
As far back as I can remember, Vale has always been home. It is woven into who I am; so much so that calling it part of my DNA hardly feels like an exaggeration. My family’s roots in this community run deep, with three generations on both sides graduating from Vale High School. Our story here began in 1939, when my family relocated from Oklahoma and homesteaded in the Vale/Willowcreek area.
Some of my earliest memories are of growing up on the family farm, spending long summer days exploring the land with my siblings, collecting nightshade vines, teasel, cattails, bits of bone, or pretty rocks and anything else we found along the way. Each day we would bring all of our treasures home to show my Granny Rae. Those moments filled the long summer days with joy, curiosity, and love. They are experiences that shaped both my life and my creativity cementing my love for the place I call home.
I graduated from Vale High School in 2001 alongside my husband, Adam Tamez. After leaving the area to pursue higher education studying a range of subjects, with a focus on chemistry and art; we returned to Vale to raise our family. Together, we have worked to raise two boys, Gunnar and Dax, as we enjoy watching the strong sense of community and family that makes this place so special grow in our children. Today, I teach high school chemistry at Vale High School, giving me the opportunity to invest in the next generation of students in the same school that helped shape me.
As an artist, my style is rooted in both observation and reflection. With a realism that is touched by emotion. It has been influenced by my background in science and my lifelong connection to the natural world, blending structure with creativity. Over time, my artistic voice has developed through both formal study and lived experience, drawing inspiration from the landscapes, memories, and people that define Vale.
Legacy is deeply important to me and my family. The opportunity to contribute to this mural is both meaningful and personal. It is a way to give back to the community that has given me so much. Through my work, I hope viewers feel the sense of connection, history, and pride that ties generations together in this place. More than anything, I hope it reflects the enduring spirit of Vale and the legacy we continue to build here.