She walks in beauty: Friends, community honor Valerie Serpa’s legacy in the arts

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
Lord George Byron
 

Longtime friend Gailmarie Pahmeier’s powerful words radiated the beauty of Valerie Serpa, who, along with her late husband Kirk Robertson, transformed the Oasis of Nevada into a cherished home for the arts.

Pahmeier, who teaches creative writing and contemporary literature courses at the University of Nevada, Reno, was one of many speakers Sunday at Barkley Theatre who remembered Serpa, executive director the Churchill Arts Center, along with more than 300 people. Serpa and pilot Don Sefton died Dec. 5 when a small plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from the Medford (Oregon) Municipal Airport.

“Byron’s poem is classic and beautiful. Valerie was a classic beauty,” Pahmeier said in strong, accented words.
Pahmeier said Serpa, who would’ve been 68 years old Sunday, was a beautiful person inside and out.
“There was nothing cliché about Valerie,” Serpa said. “She was exceptional.”

Pahmeier, who also spoke at a celebration of life for Robertson in May 2017, remembered how each complemented one another. On one hand, she said “Kirk was blessed with his love for Valerie, who already inspired an already unique voice to a heightened heartfulness.”

Valerie McFarlane was named after her aunt. She, along with friends and family and her mother Bonnie Carlson, organized the tribute to Serpa including speakers and a visual presentation. As a girl, she had envisioned herself performing on the theater’s stage, looking into the spotlight. Now, she’s remembering the impact her aunt’s life made on others.

McFarlane said sifting through her aunt’s many boxes of items brought a big smile. McFarlane said she also found two charts on the Serpa family history. A moment of silence fell over McFarlane as she fought back tears.

“This one hurts, guys. I know it hurts for so many of you, too,” McFarlane said, adding she feels a piece of her is missing.

The stage and balconies now bring a special memory for McFarlane and her son, Jace.

“This building and stage were the last place my son Jace saw Val,” McFarlane said. “Jace was mesmerized with this place.”

McFarlane said her aunt missed Kirk tremendously after his unexpected death almost five years ago.

Julie Serpa, who's 12 years younger than her older sister, said Valerie was always there when needed. With her daughter, Brooke, standing next to her, Serpa, who teaches school in Reno, said she will never forget the day she learned of the plane crash. She described the call as unbelievable, unreal. Serpa knew she wouldn’t see or talk to her older sister or see her walking down the hallway of the Oats Park building greeting visitors.

“In my heart I know she’s around us,” Serpa said, knowing her trips to Fallon won’t be the same.

Michon Mackedon and Serpa worked on many projects together and served on numerous committees, including the mayor's Centennial Committee for Fallon’s 100th birthday in 2008, and the local Sesquicentennial Committee for Nevada in 2014. Mackedon described the private side of her longtime friend who could wear stilettos without falling down or feeding livestock and greeting her chickens.

“We shared wine on many occasions,” Mackedon said.

During their numerous times working on committees and projects, Mackedon said they planned endeavors for different occasions including writing a historical book on Fallon for the sesquicentennial. She said Serpa completed many projects while taking care of her menagerie of animals at home, her art galleries, the funding grants and Robertson.

Doug Moore, a member of the Churchill Arts Council Board of Directors, said it’s the board’s goal to continue the mission forged by Serpa and Robertson.

“Valerie is so special to us,” Moore said. “She lit up the world with her smile, red lipstick and great hugs. She loved every single one of us.”

Ted Waddell reflected on the time his friend Robertson placed Valerie on a horse and proposed to her.

“Her passing has left a hole in our lives and our spirit and souls,” he said. “I don’t know if we will ever replace it.”

Waddell said Valerie was a very spirited individual, and if she didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t do it. He said Valerie loved growing flowers and her chickens. She would talk to the chickens, and Waddell said they responded and talked back.
Robertson and Serpa were meant for each other as they transformed the old, red brick Oats Park school into a world-class home for the arts.

“Some of the best performers come here and still come here,” Waddell said. “That’s because in January, Kirk and Val would go to New York City to interview performers who would come here.”

Waddell said that was a testament to them.

“She and Kirk are now in heaven picking musicians and artists,” he said.

For decades Daryl Chin visited Fallon as part of the Artist-in-Residence program. He appeared in March 2017 at one of the Oats Park Arts Center galleries for poetry reading.  He also taught literature and creative writing in Churchill County Schools for more than two decades.

Chin has worked for a number of artists-in-residence programs in several western states including Wyoming, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon and California. During his career, Chin published poems in the “Florida Review,” the “Greenfield Review” and many other periodicals. His poetry collection “Soft Parts of the Back” was published by the University Press of Florida.

“I'm pleased to see you, but sad to be here,” Chin said.

When Chin came to Fallon to be a poet-in-residence during the first Gulf War, he would spend a month with the same family. Usually, he said, there would be snow. Chin also spent time with both Robertson and Serpa. His first visit to the building, before it became the arts center, resonated with him.

“When I came here, the Oats Park school was an old, red shell with bleached firewood in the windows,” he said.

Chin said the last time he saw Serpa she cooked short ribs for him.

Kevin Sammons thanked everyone for their hard work and for what they have done with the arts building and to keep the vision alive.

Sammons and his wife Jaime called Valerie a friend. Kevin Sammons said he admired how she lived by being so happy, hugging and inspiring.

The last time they visited Serpa to deliver produce, he remembers the day. He the said the radio’s volume was turned up loud, and she was dressed in a Gothic look in all black …  black top and jeans and red hair.

“She was just bopping around enjoying her day,” he said.

Sammons said one word comes to mind when thinking of Serpa: courageous. He drew some laughter when he described Serpa as courageous because of the unusual art exhibits and musical groups she brought to Fallon.

"But It made us, it made me, a little bit better,” he said. “We were better for it, for having to experience it. It’s probably true for most of us in here.”