Debbie Jean Emerson

Debbie Jean Emerson née Smith, aged 64, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at home in Tumwater Washington surrounded by family. She was born on February 16, 1960, in McMinnville Oregon to Dolores and Wayne Smith and was the second of three children (Sherrie, Debbie, and Jeff).. She grew up in Amity Oregon and graduated from Amity high school in June 1978.

She went on to earn her Associates of Applied Science in Secretarial Science Technology from Oregon Institute of Technology in June 1980. As well as earning her Bachelors in Science of Business Administration Finance Law from Portland State University in December 1984. She married Gary Lewis Emerson on August 13, 1988. They moved from Oregon to West Seattle in 1989 where she worked for Pacific First Federal Savings Bank/Gentra (General Electric) for 10 years.

In May of 1995 Debbie and Gary adopted a little girl from China and called her Mackenzie. They moved from West Seattle to Tumwater Washington in 1999 and then in November 2001 they adopted another little girl from China and called her Jillian. Debbie started working for Heritage Bank in 2003 and ended her 21 year tenure as VP Portfolio Analyst Officer.

She loved gardening, fishing, cooking, baking, playing cards, feeding the hummingbirds, watching the birds in her backyard and spending time with family and friends. She made some of the best slow roasted ribs and molasses ginger sugar cookies I have ever had (I’m probably a tad biased). She was an amazing daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, friend, and woman and will be deeply missed.