Deborah Anne Kelly Christensen's Obituary
Deborah Anne Kelly Christensen was born May 5, 1954, to JoAnne Barfuss and Burton Cleveland Kelly in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. Deborah and Barbara Jo, her twin, surprised her parents by coming 7 weeks early. From her earliest days Deborah was passionate about mortal life. Deborah survived the early birth, while Barbara Jo remained only two days.
Deborah’s early years included living in Colorado, Illinois, and Utah. She thrived in school and from an early age wanted to teach others. She would come home from school and teach her siblings what she learned. Her next younger brother, Michael, was reading in Kindergarten as a result of her tutoring. She helped to raise her siblings and was an amazing big sister. She was a fast runner and participated in high school track.
She received an Associate’s degree in Family History from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) and loved her time in Rexburg. She later received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University.
Deborah was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and an active serving member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many capacities. She faithfully served a full-time mission in the California Oakland mission and was known as Sister Sunshine.
Deborah met her future husband while student-teaching in a first grade class at Sharon Elementary, in Orem, Utah. Her teaching mentor, Lila Christensen, introduced her to her son Ray and they fell deeply in love. Deborah and Ray were sealed in the Provo Temple on July 20, 1977, and started their young family while they were both attending Brigham Young University.
While raising her young family, she served as Relief Society Counselor, taught in Nursery and then served in multiple Stake Primary Presidencies in California and Arizona. She loved teaching in the Primary and was richly blessed for her many years of service. She worked as a Young Women’s leader and formed lasting bonds with the girls and the other leaders. She served many years in Relief Society compassionate service and thrived serving others.
Deborah loved her five children: Michael, Sarah Maya, Rachel Merrill, Keili Christensen Rose, and Aolani Levering. One of her favorite days was having Keili and Aolani sealed to her and husband Ray in the Provo Temple, surrounded by Michael, Sarah, and Rachel all dressed in white.
Deborah lived to hug and nurture her 17 grandchildren, who are the loves of her life. Each feels they are her favorite, as Deborah intended. Deborah loved to garden and worked extremely hard to have a weed-free garden. She always grew more than she needed and shared everything with family and neighbors. She loved nature and the outdoors. Her favorite outing was to go up Provo Canyon for a picnic, with as many family members as possible, making beautiful memories they all could treasure. She also loved to visit Yellowstone National Park. She loved reading and always had a romance or suspense novel nearby.
Even with deteriorating health and numerous surgeries, Deborah remained positive through her trials and focused her energies on serving others. She loved to get out and share her enthusiasm for life. She often put on makeup and a smile to serve others so she could “forget her own pain” and followed the adage, “forget yourself and go to work”.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Mark, and her sister Barbara Jo. She is survived by her husband Ray Christensen and her children Michael Christensen (Dana), Sarah Maya, Rachel Merrill (Robb), Keili Christensen Rose (Ariey), and Aolani Levering (Hyrum), and her 17 grandchildren; as well as her brothers Michael, Paul, John, Stephen, Philip, and her sister Mary Kay (Pfost).
Deborah completed her mortal life 20 March 2024 surrounded by family due to health complications. She will be remembered for her passion for life and deep testimony of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who is the hope and joy in this life and the next.
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