Obituary of Deborah Kay Boone

Deborah Kay “Debbie” Boone of Olympia, Washington, passed away in the early morning hours on Sunday, December 8, 2019, surrounded by family. She was 71 years old. 

She was born Deborah Kay Ellertson on September 28, 1948 to Bud and Iris Ellertson, the second of seven children. She went on to build family and community for over seven decades in towns from the Great Salt Lake to the Puget Sound. Her sweet spirit and outgoing demeanor made her a natural caregiver and a joy to be around. She was an excellent teacher, an attentive and energetic nurse, and a gifted homemaker.

Debbie lived her life in distinct chapters, each a natural progression of the one before. Her ability to nurture whichever garden she inhabited was a constant quality that she maintained for those around her, regardless of the changes or challenges life presented. You always knew you were a priority for her, be it in her family growing up, the family she raised, or friends and colleagues in church and at work.

She spent her early years in Ogden, Utah. She married Glenn Green and raised six children, relocating to the Pacific Northwest in the process. She taught us all to read, care for others, cook, can, bake, draw, sing, and be creative. Above all, she taught us to be in the moment and to let those around us know how important they are to us and to show them love.

At the youthful age of 42, Debbie moved into the workforce, putting herself through school and studying to become a nurse. She gave her time and skills at various institutions, including St. Peter Hospital, Madigan Army Medical Center, and the Capital Medical Center, rising in her abilities to the role of PRN. She worked at CMC for 15 years, earning the esteem, respect and friendship of many colleagues — some of whom became her caregivers in her last weeks. She was known to burst into song at work, lifting her co-workers’ spirits, brightening the days of her patients. Year-round Christmas carols were a specialty.

Debbie met Kevin Boone in Centralia in 1999 and they immediately sparked and fell in love. They married just a few months later and were constant companions since that day. They traveled to national parks and charming towns from Washington to St. George, Utah, to Fredericksburg, Texas, taking in the sights and feeling out the local haunts and flavors.

As a mother, she raised six children, imparting a love for cooking and family gatherings, and baking with skill and verve. She’s used the same wheat mill since the 1970s. She made a ritual of preserving tomatoes and peaches, and cooking raspberry jam to dole out over the course of the year. She added new words to the English food lexicon, for example saying “chaw” instead of “bite” as in: “Let me get a chaw of that.” While she collected and honed thousands of recipes, she was a whiz ad-libbing in the kitchen, making well-rounded feasts off the cuff. 

She was a quick study with capable hands, and she became skilled at anything she tried: quilting, sewing, drawing--the list goes on.  She loved all holidays and never failed to decorate for the next one coming. Her Christmas village grew every year, as she’d keep a keen eye peeled at the various markets and bazaars of western Washington for treasures and bargains. She could sniff out a holiday bazaar like no other.

Debbie came from a large family, added to it, and then expanded it in work, worship, and play. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Iris; and her first grandson, Austin Kelley. Debbie is survived by her spouse, Kevin Boone; her children, Cortney (Philip) Kelley, Melissa (Kevin) Boyer, Josh (Mallory) Green, Megan (Nick Childers) Green, Erin (Ruben) Laguna, Zach (Desiree) Green; stepchildren, Geoffrey and Kayla Boone; her many grandchildren, Morgan, Keevan, Emmett, Ezra, Jaden, Alex, Eva, Payton, Gracen, Luna, Aurora; one great granddaughter, Riann; and her siblings, David, Becky, Jeff, Holly, Lori, John, and Amy.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3800 Henderson Blvd. SE, Olympia, Washington, 98501. Anyone whose life she touched is welcome to attend.

Our deepest thanks and gratitude go to the staff of the Capital Medical Center, specifically the 3rd floor, whose love and gentle care eased us, above all Mom, as she made her way to heaven.

We can’t believe you’re gone from us so quickly, Mom! We miss you and our hearts ache thinking that our gatherings and holidays won’t be enlivened by your spontaneity and sweetness. We're so grateful to have shared so much of our lives with you. We know you’re looking down on us and we’ll keep talking with you in prayer and meditation. Thank you for being such an incredible and loving presence in all of our lives. We love you!