Our precious Debbie left us suddenly after emergency surgery at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital on Friday, November 29, 2024. Our family is comforted to know she is resting in peace and safe with her Heavenly Father. We look forward to reuniting on Resurrection Day.

Deborah Kay was born to William Robert Bailey and Lila Lee Moore Bailey on September 30, 1951, in Pendleton, OR, USA. Hermiston, OR, a community well known for their watermelons is where Debbie grew up. The eldest of three girls, this sister had a lifetime of unconditional love for her younger siblings. Throughout her youth she had an inseparable bond with Aunt Trudy, who was born a few months after her arrival. At age 15, Debbie was baptized, and her love for Jesus, Our Lord and Redeemer grew more and more every day. Debbie attended Gem State Adventist Academy in Cadwell, Idaho, for her senior year and graduated with honors. This is also where she met her future Canadian husband.

On the snowy afternoon of December 20, 1970, Debbie married her high school sweetheart, Ron Sanders in the Hermiston SDA church. Days later the newlyweds crossed the border and started their life together in Vancouver, British Columbia. Within the year they moved to Rutland, BC and settled there for the next four years. Debbie’s first bundle of joy, Andrea arrived in May of 1972. The family moved to Fort McMurray, AB in 1976 and then two years later moved southwest to Grande Prairie, AB. In 1981 property was purchased in DeBolt, AB. The couple soon went to work building their own home mortgage free and had been residing in the community since 1982. Her second bundle of joy, Sonny, was born June 1986.

Debbie, child of God, daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mom, aunt, mother-in-law, neighbour and friend lived a very full life and had varied employment. In her early twenties this included being a mailroom clerk, extended care provider and waitress. After moving to Grande Prairie, Debbie went to work full time alongside Ron as a drywaller applicator. In the 1980’s she was one of the first ladies to have a membership in the Carpenter and Lathers Union. Notable projects Debbie worked on were the Grande Prairie Provincial Building and Courthouse, the QEII Hospital, Crystal Park School, the Fairview RCMP detachment and building and the Fairview College dormitory. Debbie hung up her toolbelt in 1986 to be a full-time caregiver with Sonny as his health was compromised. As his health improved, she began volunteering at MacKenzie Place with palliative care program and hymn sing services as well as Salvation Army soup kitchen. Years later she re-entered the workforce as a grocery courtesy clerk, donation store clerk and lastly a product demonstrator.

Writing and journaling became a passion in 1990 with “Dimensions of Love” her ministry legacy. Debbie was an advocate for persons with disabilities and their families. Her faith, advocacy and political journeys were shared often with family, friends, acquaintances, faith leaders and politicians throughout Canada and USA. Debbie was a contributing and published author with the SDA Women’s Daily Devotional Series (1993-present), whose readership is worldwide. Her poetry has international recognition. In June 2003 Debbie became a Canadian citizen. She was proud to be both American and Canadian, as such the United States Memorial Day 2025 is a fitting day to celebrate and remember Deb.

Debbie’s smile was beautiful. Her empathy and compassion were remarkable, touching many hearts with her love prints. Debbie will be forever loved and remembered by family and friends: her husband, Ron of nearly 54 years; children, Andrea (Bill) and Sonny; mother Lila (93 years young), sisters: Beth (Dean) and Janet (Jess), nephews and nieces, Terry (Rita), Lora (Ryan), Heidi, Shara, Jessica (Tim), Kory (Amanda), Jarrod (Miranda) and Wyatt. Sister -in-laws Delores (Les) and Dianne. Aunts Dorothy, Daisy, Alverna, Marie, Judy, Carol, Rosalee and numerous cousins.

She is predeceased by her father, Bob, stepfather Bill, aunts and uncles, Goldie, Keith, Cherry, JD, Wade, Trudy, Edward, Kenny, Betty, Bobby, Sylvan, Mark, Tony, and Luke. Ron’s parents Alex and Vera Sanders and brother-in-law, Paul.

Our family thanks Debbie’s medical team Dr. Odufuwa, Dr. Donoso, Mallory, Dena, Grande Prairie EMS, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital ER and Intensive Care doctors and nurses and Dr. Mizzau.

Thank you to Brooke, LoAnn, Tina and the team at Oliver’s Funeral for your outstanding support. Thank you to Dianne, Gerry, Pastor Dan, Trudie, our Grande Prairie SDA church family. Sonny’s care providers, Joy, Jason and Jonathan as well as many family and friends who helped us through this difficult time.

The family held a private viewing at Oliver’s Funeral Home on December 5, 2024.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Grande Prairie Seventh Day Adventist Church. (7110039 Range Road 55 Grande Prairie)

The Service will be Livestreamed and can be accessed from Debbie’s obituary page on Oliver’s Funeral Home Website. Link will be live 15 minutes prior to service.

Debbie’s final resting place will be in the family plot in Hermiston, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to charities supporting Mental Heath and Suicide Prevention or Inclusion in Alberta.

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