Deborah Cecelia Allinger

It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of Deborah (Debbie) Cecelia Allinger, 72 years young, of Mesa, Arizona on October 2, 2019 at 10:05 a.m. in her home located in Mesa, Arizona. She was born in Dallas, Oregon on July 5, 1947 to Charles and Joyce (Bailey) Farrer. Her parents moved her and her older brother, Dennis (Denny), to the Oregon Coast and when she was three years old, she was stricken with the polio disease in her right leg. She spent the next 10 years of her life, off and on, at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon. When she turned 14 years old, she was attending Oakridge High School in Oakridge, Oregon. During her Spring Break, she visited relatives located in Stevenson, Washington. It was there, at the local Dairy Freeze, she met her future husband, Victor (Vic) Lee Allinger, who grew up in Stevenson. It was love at first sight for Vic but took their first date for Debbie to realize she found her ‘someone special’. Vic and Debbie married on July 13, 1963 and welcomed their first daughter, Desi Lee, on February 14, 1964. The following year, Debbie was pregnant with their second daughter, Bridgitte Ann, but sadly, she was born 2 months premature on Debbie’s birthday, July 5, 1965, and lost their daughter two days later on July 7 due to a kidney infection. Vic and Debbie went on to have three more children, all boys: Victor Lee, Jr. on November 18, 1967, Jesse Lee on January 31, 1971, and Travis Lee on September 5, 1972. Debbie was a stay-at-home mom during the raising of her four children until they graduated from high school. During this time, she volunteered many hours at the kids’ schools, helped form a track club in Vancouver, Washington, attended every school event the children were involved in, and helped with their school projects. At a young age, she had natural artistic ability for calligraphy, painting, and poem writing. Some feel it was due to the fact that she didn’t have use of her leg when she was young so she compensated with what she could accomplish with her arms and hands, like playing the organ or making ceramics. She had a natural talent for styling and home decorating along with sewing, crafting, and cooking. Their home always looked like something out of a Better Homes and Garden magazine, no matter where they lived. Vic’s job as a boilermaker required the family to move often, living in several states such as Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas. It was always an adventure and no matter where they were located, Debbie always made the home beautiful and special for the family. Family was very important to her and she loved the holidays, especially Christmas. Even the gifts she wrapped were an artform in itself. She will always be remembered for her thoughtfulness and selfless acts of kindness to others. She has been a member of the Eagles in the State of Washington for 45 years, an advocate for children with illnesses, and was a regular benefactor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. After her children were grown, she began helping her husband, Vic, as the financial manager and office director, in the boilermaker business as an independent contractor. This eventually landed them in Mesa, Arizona where they moved to 20 years ago and have been a resident ever since. They eventually started their own company, Steam Generation, in Mesa, and the company still grows today. Debbie was a woman who could beat all odds. The moment doctors said she would never walk again was the moment she proved them wrong. By the time she was in her mid-50’s, post-polio syndrome was setting in. She began to walk with a cane, then gradually moved into a leg brace, then arm crutches, and finally, a wheelchair. In January of 2004, she was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer and had a large tumor removed. She has been the longest survivor of sarcoma cancer to date. Over the years, her health began to decline due to kidney issues which finally succumbed her death. She is proceeded in death by her mother, Joyce (Bailey) Mosset, her father, Charles Farrer, her brother, Dennis Farrer, her daughter Bridgitte, her half-brother, Jeff Mosset, her maternal grandparents, Benjamin and Cecelia (Flagg) Bailey, and paternal grandparents, Charles and Ruby Farrer. She is survived by her husband, Vic Allinger; her children and their spouses, Desi Allinger-Nelson (spouse John Nelson) of Anaheim, California; Vic Allinger, Jr. (spouse Whitney Allinger) of Mesa, Arizona; Jesse Allinger (spouse Jessie Allinger) of Ferndale, Washington; and Travis Allinger (spouse Rhesa Allinger) of San Tan Valley, Arizona; her grandchildren, Kevin Hummel and Brian Hummel of Hillsboro, Oregon; Felicia Allinger of Sitka, Alaska, Bryce Allinger of Vancouver, Washington, Chase and Parker Allinger of Mesa, Arizona; Amnesty Allinger of Spokane, Washington, Cale Allinger of Spokane, Washington, and Ty Allinger of Vancouver, Washington; Brooke Allinger of Gilbert, Arizona, Emma Allinger of Gilbert, Arizona, and Wyatt Allinger of San Tan Valley, Arizona; her great-grandchildren, Raelyn and Jase Winkleman of Spokane, Washington. Funeral Services are Wednesday, October 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mariposa Gardens, 400 S Power Road, Mesa, Arizona, 85206. White flowers (no lilies) may sent to the funeral home in Debbie Allinger’s name. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made on the behalf of Debbie Allinger to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in the area of your choice.