Valaree Jean Langley-Foss

CANAAN – Valaree Jean Langley-Foss, 71, of Canaan, Maine, passed unexpectedly of complications related to pseudoaneurysm repair on Jan. 18, 2026.

Valaree was born on June 27 in Hartland, Maine, the daughter of Robert and Beverly Langley.

Valaree graduated from Skowhegan Area High School in 1972. Valaree worked at Pleasant Hill Nursing Home in Fairfield as a Physical Therapy Aide where she met her late husband (riding her motorcycle). They were married in 1973.

She continued her working career at Inland Hospital as a phlebotomist and Lab Tech supervisor. After leaving Inland Hospital, Valaree worked at a small doctor’s office when she decided to end her working career.

In 1986, Valaree enrolled her daughters Tavi and Stefanie in the local rec center Track and Field program in Skowhegan, Maine. This brought on a lifetime career in track and field, 38 years.

Valaree was awarded the James Gray Award, which is given to an official who has given a lifetime to leading, mentoring and motivating others in the various venues of track and field in 2009. Valaree was a Master Level Track and Field official, who as of recently retired from being president of USATF Maine for many years. Multiple times Valaree worked at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

She was instrumental in bringing the USATF National Masters Track and Field meets to the University of Maine three times. Along with that, Valaree was instrumental in Maine Track and Field, getting Golden awards every year at national conventions for maintained memberships and qualifying achievements.

Valaree was fully committed to the life of Track and Field. She would always say the pay isn’t great, the hot food is always cold, and the soda is always warm. But that never stopped her.

Valaree was a Master Level official and could officiate any event. Even when she was stuck working high jump and pole vault. Not the most suitable events for height challenged people! Her two favorite officiating events were starting and weights and measures. Her booming commands drew the athlete’s attention when false starts were recalled, and the starter pistol would not make them return. Even with her signature long nails, Valaree was prolific in handling the heaviest of implements while doing weights and measures.

Remaining to cherish Valaree’s memory is her daughter Stefanie Foster, her son-in-law Chris Foster; grandson Ian Norton; great grandson Wilder TJ Norton; siblings Robert, Diane and Bruce; and other close family and friends. She was welcomed with open arms by her recently deceased husband Stephen Foss and eldest daughter Tavi Norton.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday Feb. 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Skowhegan Federated Church located at 13 Island Ave, Skowhegan, Maine, 04976. If you are unable to attend, the service will be live streamed and can be found on YouTube under Skowhegan Federated Church. Click on View Channel. Live even will be streaming when service starts.

Food and soft drinks will be provided after the service at the same location as the service. Burial services will be held in late spring, early summer of 2026. Notices will be sent out on Facebook and direct messaging. A guest book will be out so if you would like to be notified of the burial service, please sign with your preferred contact method.