Debra Jo Pearce, 61

Debbie Pearce, 61, of Rathdrum, Idaho, ascended into heaven on Oct. 2, 2015, after a courageous eight-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Debbie was the first of three children born to Chuck and Mary Lou Peterson of Wardner, Idaho.

Debbie grew up in the Silver Valley with her parents and two sisters, Sandy and Shirley. She attended Kellogg High School from which she graduated in 1973. Later that year, she married Mike Pearce, and although their marriage was not meant to last, they had two strong, beautiful daughters whom she loved with all her heart. As a single mom, Debbie devoted her time to children; not only to her daughters, but also to the hundreds of children whose lives she touched as a preschool teacher during her 30-year career. In addition to her job as a preschool teacher, she also was dedicated to empowering girls through her 35 years of service as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer, where she mentored girls from ages 5 to 18 as well as helped and trained many adult volunteers.

In 2007, Debbie moved away from Wardner for the last time to live with her daughter and son-in-law and at that time two granddaughters. Late that year Debbie’s cancer was discovered, and she began the fight of her life. At diagnosis her cancer was at stage 4, but by the grace of God and after two years of unwavering determination, her doctors would tell her she was in remission. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the cancer reared its ugly head again and Debbie fought back harder then any one could imagine. Her fight was never easy but she did it with a smile on her face and never complained. Over the last few years she only wished she was able to continue to serve the youth of our area, and although she was too weak, she had many calls and visitors who would ask for her guidance and expertise which gave her such joy. Debbie enjoyed her time with her family and friends immensely and loved nothing more than the morning snuggles from her little grandson.

Debbie leaves her loving memories to be cherished by many friends and family members, including her grandchildren: Audrey, Olivia and John Charles Gibson; her daughter and son-in-law: CharLene and John Gibson of Rathdrum; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Sandy and Mike Lantrip of Bentonville, Ark., and Shirley and Berry Lemke of Reedsport, Ore.; her parents: Chuck Peterson and Jo Paterson of Hayden, Idaho; and four nieces, one nephew, three great-nieces and two great-nephews.

Debbie was preceded in death by her daughter, RaeLene Pearce, her mother, Mary Lou Peterson, and many aunts, uncles, and her grandparents.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. Fifth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Debbie’s honor and memory be made to help one of the numerous youth programs at Trinity Lutheran Church.