Deborah Ann Getchell

Deborah Ann Getchell, known to all who loved her as Debbie, died peacefully with her son Phil, daughter-in-law Katie, sister Tawny, and dear friends Linda Bass and Terry Harris by her side on Sunday, January 15, 2017. Born in Augusta, Maine on March 7, 1951, Debbie spent most of her years in Portland's West End where her mother Marjorie Harriet Pearson and father Richard Warren Getchell made a life for themselves and their children Eric (Ricky) Warren, Deborah Ann and Tawny Jean. Other than brief forays to Kentucky and Florida, Debbie lived in Portland, raising her son Phil on Munjoy Hill and then in the shadow of where she was raised in the West End. Debbie enjoyed a long career at the beloved and greatly missed Sportsman's Grill where she charmed regulars and tourists. As an instructor at Mansfield Beauty Academy, she enjoyed sharing her love of cosmetology – often practiced with a kitchen haircut - with her young students. These two jobs brought her much joy and meant that anywhere she went, she knew somebody. Debbie loved fishing and hunting with her brother, playing pool and drinking coffee with her sister, and playing cribbage with anybody who dared (she always won). What brought her most joy and pride was following her son's accomplishments and adventures - his education in Boston, teaching and IT careers, exotic travels, love of baseball, high-school sweetheart, and many friends. Her appreciation of nature, love of a good time and wry sense of humor live on in him. Debbie is predeceased by her brother Ricky; she is survived by her son Philip John and his wife Katherine Glaser Getchell of Boston, her sister Tawny Preston and her husband Earle of Portland, her nephews Richard Preston, Justin Getchell, Stephan Sargent, and Eric Getchell, nieces Stephanie Sargent Coffin and Kari Ellsworth, and her dearest cat Snook. Her family is grateful for the exceptional care she was given at Maine Medical Center and loving attention of her neighbors.

A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, January 22 from 1-3pm to be followed by a celebration of Debbie’s life at 3pm at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street in Portland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland – www.arlgp.org

“The wonderful thing about tiggers is tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber; their bottoms are made out of springs. They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I am the only one.” – Tigger

Please visit wwwjonesrichandbarnes.com for further information and to sign Debbie’s guestbook.

Arrangements under the direction of Jones-Rich-Barnes Funeral Home, Portland, ME.