Deborah Ellen Peterson

Debbie was born June 6, 1950 in Maryville, MO to Dolores F. (Toots) Meyer and Thomas James (TJ) Tobin. She passed away at her home in Kansas City, KS on April 4, 2026 with her loving husband, Bill, by her side.

Debbie lived in KCK most of her life and graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1968. She worked at AT&T until retiring from there and then went on to work part time at Target in the office where she retired fully after working there 10 years. She’s met many long time friends through her lifetime and career and even remained in touch with her high school friends.

Debbie was full of life and love, she was kind and generous and accepted everyone just the way they were, her smile lit up any room she was in! Debbie always had a fridge full of your favorite soda, she wouldn’t let you come to the house without leaving with sweets, and she never showed up to someone’s house without bringing an abundance of food…sometimes even paper plates.

She loved to play board games with family and friends, always had a puzzle on the table, and loved going to the casino and driving around Wyandotte County Lake with Bill. Peanut M&M’s (especially the blue one’s) were her favorite snack.

Debbie was always on the go, going to the movies with her sisters, visiting family, taking family out for dinner or going to her grandchildren’s events to cheer them on…but her favorite was traveling with Bill to the mountains or to their favorite, Las Vegas, where she would bring home stories and pictures of their adventures. Debbie always sent cards for every holiday, event, occasion, even just to say she was thinking of you. She said the rosary daily for her friends and family in need of prayers. Debbie loved fiercely and showed her love by being there for her family and friends, always present in their lives.

She was married to Dan Chumley 1970-1986 and shared one son, Sean Michael. She married Bill Peterson in 1996 to the day she passed.

Debbie is preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister in law, J. Michael Tobin and Pat; grandson, Austin Schreiber; nephews, Michael Tobin II and Jeremy Tucker, and niece, Colley Tobin.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 30 years, Bill Peterson; her loving son, Sean (Trisha) Chumley; 3 step children, Keith Peterson, Bryon (Joy) Peterson, Krista Peterson; 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; 7 sisters, Julie Bartlett, Patricia (Don) Jackson, Beverly (Larry) Stone, Mary (Jeff) Bemis, Christine (Russ Henderson) Kalcic, Cindy (John) Stimmel and Suzanne Tobin; 2 brothers, Tom (Cheryl) Tobin and Pete Tobin; 2 sister in laws, Shirley (Bado) Segura, Orletta (Steve) Sappington and 1 brother in law, Ronnie (Lisa) Peterson. Many nieces and nephews and other extended family; all who were very special to her.

Debbie will be so missed with her great smile and the closeness we all felt just being around her. There was only one Debbie.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Memorial Gathering will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112, on April 25, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.