Birth date: Mar 13, 1954 Death date: Jul 6, 2025
Deborah Dee Simmons Richardson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 6, 2025 at the age of 71. Debbie was born on March 13, 1954, in Washington, D.C., to Boyd Read Obituary
Debbie and I shared many joyful times, and a few sorrowful times, since two of my daughters married two of her sons. It was an honor to stand alongside her as grandmother to amazing children! And she was a great example of being a genuine friend. Until we meet again!❤️
I met Debbie in 1975, when we were both working on 2A at Utah Valley Hospital. We immediately became fast friends. My mind and heart are full of beautiful memories with Debbie. I will mention a few, beginning with some that reach way back: When we both had our first child, we took them with us in their little infant carriers in which they sat while we learned to construct leaded glass as a potential job--a job which neither of us got, but we had fun trying together. Around the same time period, Debbie and I put the same two babies in her car, and drove to Salt Lake, where she introduced me to her Great-uncle Ezra Taft Benson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve. Such an honor and privilege. Afterward we went to Bratton's for a lunch of crab. We got up before dawn, another time, to deliver the care packages we had made for Thanksgiving. It never occurred to us that we were just "poor enough" ourselves to merit a care package, but it was always Debbie's mindset to serve and to give. Over the years, we sewed clothes for our children together, cleaned a new church building, drove to California together with babies in tow to deliver a car to her sister, then flew home, met countless times for a gab session and a salad bar dinner at the Sizzler in Provo, chatted on the phone, and met from time to time as our families grew, and circumstances changed. Always so much to talk about, and things of the heart to share. Debbie inspired, uplifted, and taught me--just by being herself. I was a new member of the Church when we met, and I determined right away that she was the paragon of a woman in Zion that I wanted to emulate. She was happy, truthful, candid, funny, generous, trusting, faithful, and a host of other positive adjectives that could fill a book. She was beautiful and genuine. She loved people, served them, and charmed everyone. She was smart, and never afraid to declare her faith in Jesus Christ, and in His gospel. Through Debbie, and open declarations that she was "repenting of this or that," I realized that repenting is a daily, hopeful, joyful thing. I loved her openness and the hope, joy, and vibrancy for life she always manifested. She was one-of-a-kind, and a true and loving friend. The last time I saw her, we spent a week together as she was in the midst of her heart issues, after the cancer had done its worst, during the time shortly before she married Dave. We had a friendship that spanned fifty wonderful years, but that, in truth, will last forever. I love you, Debbie, and look forward with joy to the day we will meet again! God bless and keep you. Love forever. Cynthy
Debbie has had a profound and eternal influence on my life. When she came with her family to Salmon she was full of sunshine, energy and love for everyone around her. She was my best friend and we laughed a lot! We enjoyed being chemistry partners and making purple eyeshadow for our project. I still remember the surprised look when she referred to our teacher one day as Brother Whitehead instead of Mister. She just thought of everyone as a member of the family of Christ. With Debbie there was fun and music and kindness and light! We enjoyed drama, skits, music, dancing, singing, eating avocados, church, school, and learning. She and her family gave me my first taste of what Family Home Evening was— they centered their lives on Christ, following the Prophet, and the Book of Mormon. She blessed my life and the lives of others. She treated everyone like a friend and never knew a stranger. No matter the circumstances she looked on the bright side of people and spoke of how good they were. She loved and delighted in her children and grandchildren. She is a perfect example of the phrase “ a brightness of hope”. Her greatest joy is her loved ones and Christ in her heart. I thank Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessing of her in my life. (Leslie Nelson Brown)
I spent many days of my childhood in Debbie’s home with my friends Nate and Reed. She had a home full of love even for a neighbor boy. She seemed to always have homemade bread or a fresh picked piece of fruit from the backyard. A wonderful family and a wonderful woman.
Best Aunt Ever!
I met Debbie through the Jacksons, and she always impressed me with the energy and love she shares so abundantly with those around her. She was truly a light to those around her and I'm sorry to hear of her passing. My condolences to the whole family.
Debbie and I met in Israel, and I've adored her ever since. She was the laughing light of our "Israel group" of friends. We didn't move back to the States from our adventures abroad until 1996. In 2001, my health collapsed, and Debbie was instrumental in getting my fibromyalgia into remission. She and I presented hormone balance classes together for years afterwards. I know they helped many women who attended. We were always in close touch during the following years, and I used to drop by her house after work after her divorce. I stayed in close touch during her cancer/heart/aneurysm journey, but she got to the point that she could no longer recognize me during her dementia journey. I've been missing her for a long time and know she's tearing it up in heaven. I can't wait until we can do that together! Love and sympathy to the whole family. Gale Boyd
The first time I met Debbie was when we were building our house in Appleton, were up on the roof, and she came out and asked if we had seen three little boys. Those boys, and the 4 children that followed, kept her busy, happy and were the center of her life all her life. She was one of the strongest women I know, strong in faith, in determination and in joy! I'm so very grateful that this sweet friend came into my life and her example will be with me all of my life.
--Mary Beth Wald
During Debbie’s illness, we spent hours together at her home organizing her papers. She was always upbeat, loving, and gracious. She was an angel on earth. My sincerest condolences to her family and deepest respect to Dave for all he did to help her in her final years.
