Deby graduated from Natrona High School in 1956 in Casper, Wyoming and in September 1959 she married Jim Stelling, in Denver, Colorado. She became a Registered Nurse in June 1959 and continued taking care of patients until she retired in January 2001.
Deby is survived by her daughter & son-in-law Dee & Ray Parker, son & daughter-in-law John & Sonya Stelling, grandkids Jodi Parker-Hauschild, Jason Parker, Kayleigh Stelling & Ryan Stelling.
A memorial service for Deby will be held Saturday, July 2, 2022 from 11:00 AM at Central Christian Church, 720 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78205, followed by a reception at 12:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Beta Sigma Phi Alamo City Council Scholarship Fund.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com.
From Deby's son, John Stelling:
There are never enough words to describe the first lady in your life. She brought you into this world, and you can never imagine a world without her.
She nursed my wounds and provided my needs when I was young, and nursed everyone else as she worked. I will remember watching medical and surgical videos when she was getting her continuous education (long before TLC was popular). She made sure I knew first aid, and every bit of medical and drug trivia I could fit into my brain. She cared for AIDS patients early in the disease and taught me that everyone deserves love, support, and caring.
She learned languages wherever we lived and could carry on a conversation with anyone – talking to folks for hours without ever mentioning their name [because she didn’t know it]. She painted to relax and I’m proud to have the results hanging on my wall. She would have been an amazing contestant on Wheel, and even tried out when they were in town.
She was always there for me, my family, my friends, and anyone else who needed support. She was proud to be a mother, a grandmother, and ‘mother’ to her furry children (deer and cats) every day. Always happy, always amazing – even when she wasn’t feeling as well as she’d lead you to believe.
Mom slipped this mortal coil on Sunday, calmly and with no fuss or pain. My sister was in the house and was there the days prior so I know Mom knew she was loved. We were all there in spirit and knew what to expect, just not that it would be this soon.
I can’t believe she’s gone. I know her spirit is with those who came before and she will be watching down on all of us with Dad by her side. It will be hard for a while, and there will be moments where I don’t know if I can cope, but she’ll be there whispering support into my ear until I recover. She will always be with me (like the Force).
Facebook will remind me of this every year – and that’s ok.
No one is truly gone as long as they are remembered by those who’s lives they touched.
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