Debbie grew up on a dairy farm east of Rockville, MO. She was blessed with loving parents and three older sisters, otherwise known as three best friends. Summertime was Debbie's favorite because she loved helping her dad in the hay fields and playing softball, being coached by her dad. There was a lot of work to do each day in the garden as well as farm chores. Somehow she and her sisters made the hard work fun though. Their four room house on the farm was filled with lots of love and laughter.
Debbie attended school in Appleton City, MO. She graduated as valedictorian of her class of 1976. She knew that she wanted to be an elementary teacher, emulating her mom, from the time she was a little girl. She loved helping her mom prepare projects for her classroom and talking to her mom about school. After high school Debbie attended Central Missouri State University and received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1979. She later completed her Master's degree, also from Central Missouri State University, in 1982. She began her teaching career in Butler, MO and later In Nevada, MO until her retirement in 2012. Debbie loved teaching elementary children and always felt like that was her "calling".
The pride and joy of her life was her family. She loved cooking big meals and having all of them come to eat. She always considered this time to be a blessing and did it as often as she could. She was so grateful that all of her kids lived close by so they could get together often. Her grandchildren were, as they say, the apple of her eye. She loved spending time with the grandchildren and was always finding a fun way to spend time with them. Debbie always felt that laughter needed to be a big part of every day. She loved being silly and playing with them.
Debbie had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and after being sick for so long she was ready to spend eternity with her Savior. She loved learning and growing in her faith with her church family at Rinehart Christian Church. Her favorite time of each week was playing the piano with the praise band at church and worshipping through music. She also loved working in her vegetable garden and flowers.
Debbie is survived by her husband Dean of the home, sons Adam (Alisha) Walker of Nevada, MO, Ben (Marli) Walker of Nevada, MO and daughter Emily Hayes (Andy) of Nevada, MO. She has six grandchildren: Graham Walker, Grey Walker, Walker Hayes, Morgan Hayes, Willow Hayes, and Baylor Walker. She is also survived by three sisters: Sandra Long of Appleton City, MO, Skip (Jack) Mead of Nevada, MO, and Betty (Gerald) Stephan of Montrose, MO. She also had several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Van Waite, mother and father-in-law Harry and Jean Walker, and brother-in-law Bill Long.
Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 1st at Rinehart Christian Church, Richards, MO with Kevin Moyers and Elijah Pierson officiating. A private committal will be held at Newton Burial Park in Nevada, MO. The family will receive friends at 1:00 PM on Monday, September 1st at Rinehart Christian Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to Rinehart Christian Church in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
