Anne Catherine Debski (née Kempton), aged 56, died of a heart attack on August 15, at her farm in Estacada, Oregon. She is survived by her mother Delene Kempton, her two children Lawrence Debski and Deidre Debski, and her sister Beth Landon.
Delene gave birth to Anne via Caesarian on December 26, 1967; Anne was non-negotiably feet first and ready for the world on her terms. From the time she could walk independently - and thus find her own mischief - her athletic prowess on water, snow and soccer field left comrades and spectators spellbound. Her natural talents continued into visual and performance arts, academics and leadership. As a grade school teacher reflected, ‘I’ve taught kindergarten thru grad students. In all those years and students, Anne alone was the only person I knew who I felt could someday be President.’
Anne chose a different path. She ditched college to run off to San Diego with a sailor who became her first husband. She gave birth to Larry in 1987 and Deidre in 1988 while living in Chula Vista. That accomplished, she returned to Portland with her children and divorce decree. After six years slogging in the insurance industry, she bought her first home and returned to college. Quickly finishing her Business degree from the University of Portland, she worked for her grandmother in the family business, bought another home, coached the kids’ soccer and basketball teams, and found time to burn through a particularly bad marriage. Burying her father and grandmother, she took over the family business with her sister’s occasional and remote (Alaska) support. Her sharp tongue and lightning fast cognition ensured apt decisions, solutions and more than a few property repairs with little more than a phone for tracking records and a car trunk full of tools. Somewhere in here, Anne met the love of her life - Greg Galbraith. With him, she lived in a Gresham split-level (where she took up copper welding/sculpture), a Fairview 5th wheel (in which she of course took up quilting), mobile home park modular (where she subsequently managed the park) and finally an Estacada farm replete with a few cows, sibling Australian Shepherds, and too many chickens (where she took up canning anything she could get her hands on). And managed her three residential rentals. Greg’s horrific passing in November 2020 rocked her world beyond repair. And this author/sister doesn’t know what else to say.
The family welcomes friends to attend her funeral service at St Henry’s Catholic Church (St. Henry Catholic Church - Gresham, OR (sthenrygresham.org) in Gresham on Wednesday, August 21st at 11:00AM. A light lunch will be served following the service. A private graveside service and inurnment will be at a later date at Finley - Sunset Hills Memorial Park (Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary & Sunset Hills Memorial Park (dignitymemorial.com)) where Anne will be laid to rest beside her grandparents, father, and little brother TJ.