A Life Well Lived:


Well Done Good and Faithful Servant
Debra Rose Allen:
September 5th, 1956 - September 21, 2019

Our beloved and beautiful Debra Rose went home to be with the Lord on Saturday evening, September 21st, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Her final moments were spent at home being sung to and prayed over as she was released into the arms of her Savior.

After her long and courageous fight with brain cancer, she is finally free from pain, sorrow and suffering forever. Instead, she is now singing, dancing and worshipping with all of Heaven's angels. Her past fights with cancer and illness, her strong desire to continue fighting until the very end, and most of all her unwavering faith and hope in her good and faithful Savior, was a beautiful testimony to every single person around her, as she continually kept her eyes on Jesus. She never ceased to encourage and pray for others' needs before her own and let her light shine brightly until Jesus called her home.

Debi was born on September 5, 1956 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Vincil and Donna Salyer. The oldest of three children, she dearly loved her mom, dad, and brothers, Vincent 'Rod' and Kevin. She had a wonderful relationship with her mom and dad, and her brothers who loved and cared for her so well as she bravely fought cancer until the end.

After graduating from Indiana Wesleyan College with her Teaching Degree, Debi moved to Oregon where she pursued her passion to teach children about Jesus while pouring His love into them.

It was in Oregon that she met the love of her life, and future husband, David Allen. The couple was married on May 16, 1987 in Wilsonville, Oregon where they made their home together. They loved to spend time together, serve at church, enjoyed time with their friends and family, travel, hiking, and especially going to the beach together, which was Debi's favorite place.

Debi was known best for the joy that children brought to her as she taught, served, and loved any child who God brought into her life. No one made her laugh and smile like a child and she especially loved spending as much time as she could with her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She lovingly called her nieces "her girls" from the time they were born, and was always more like a mother to them. She referred to herself as "Grauntie" Debi to her great nieces and nephews, Travarase, Faith, Jahvon, Tristan, Abigail, Levi, Maeley, Jude, Grace and Tyler and was the dearest and most precious "grandma" to them all. We know she is finally loving on and laughing with her own babies that she was never able to hold on this earth.

She will always be remembered for her contagious smile and laughter which lit up a room. Debi had the deepest love for her husband and her entire family. Debi loved to bless people in any way possible, and she enjoyed sharing her love of delicious food, chocolate, coffee and especially the beach. Another important thing to Debi was spending time back home in Michigan with her family. Most of all she will be remembered for her joy and her witness of her relationship with Jesus Christ, and the many people who were shown Jesus by her love for Him.

The words she held so tightly to as she finished her race were; "All that I've needed, Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

Her surviving family members are numerous but include:

David Allen, husband of 32 years.

Donna Salyer, mother; Vincil Salyer, father; Vincent 'Rod' Salyer, Kevin Salyer, brothers; and Kelly Cole, sister-in-law.

Tom and Daryl Allen, father and mother in law; Lori Sesko, Chris Birdsall, Kathy Schwarzin, sisters-in-law.

Nieces and Nephews: Alisha and husband Brian Silkey, Mandy and husband Donnie Hamilton, Molly Salyer, Kiah Salyer and partner Andrew Estrada, Krystalyn Salyer and partner Travis Franklin, Angelyn and husband Jon Lauderback.
Michael Sesko Jr., Courtney and husband Codie Goldman, Brice Birdsall, Brooke Birdsall and Colton Schwarzin.

We are so thankful she is reunited in heaven with her unborn babies, grandparents, her sister-in-law, Tamara Salyer, and her niece, Kayleah Salyer.

The family is so thankful for the outpouring of love that has been shown as we mourn our precious wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt, but also rejoice that her faith has now been made sight as she is forever with the Lord in heaven. There are so many who love her and will miss her so very much. The number of lives she has touched is innumerable.

Debi's celebration of life service will be held at The Neighborhood Church.
Address: 21065 SW Stafford Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062.
Date: 9/29/19
Time: Celebration of Life service begins at 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon, reception to follow with light refreshments.

Due to Debi's love of children, she asked that in lieu of flowers memorial donations please be made to the following:

St. Judes Children's Research Hospital:
Dedicated to ending childhood cancer...
https://www.stjude.org/donate

Doernbechers Children's hospital:
Where Debi's precious grand nephew Jude has been treated and so well cared for...
https://www.onwardohsu.org/donation

Crisis Pregnancy Center:
In honor of our unborn children and for God's precious children who are unable to fight for themselves...
https://first-image.org/gift/