Read Debra "Debbie" Ann Palmer's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Debra "Debbie" Ann Palmer

Mira Loma, California

April 29, 1957 - January 7, 2021

Apr 29, 1957 - Jan 7, 2021

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It is with deep sorrow that the family of Debra (Debbie) Ann Palmer, 63, of Mira Loma, California, announces her passing on Thursday, January 07, 2021. Debbie died suddenly, after a brief illness, in the ICU at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Ontario, California. Her sons and their families were able to see her for very limited visits prior to her passing.

Born Debra Ann Taylor, on April 29, 1957, in Covina, California, to William Gerald and Joyce Norma Taylor, Debbie was a lifelong resident of Southern California. She moved with her family to Monrovia in November of 1964, where she attended First Lutheran School through eighth grade and, then, Monrovia High School, graduating in 1975. Following graduation, she attended Citrus College for a short period of time, before getting married and starting her family.

Debbie met her late husband, Donald (Don) Palmer, when they were seniors in high school, and they soon became best friends. Their first date was to Disneyland for Grad Night in June 1975, and they were married on February 19, 1977. Debbie and Don lived in Monrovia and Arcadia before moving their family to Fontana in 1981. In 2019, Debbie moved to the Country Village Senior Apartments in Mira Loma.

Debbie and Don were blessed with four sons – Sean, Ryan, Jeremy, and Kevin. Debbie was the proud grandma of twelve grandchildren and one great-grandson. She loved spending time with her family and was very involved with her sons’ activities while they were growing up. She served as Team Mom for both their Little League and soccer teams and also spent over 20 years volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, in both the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs, not only at the pack/troop level, but also in District and Council positions. During her scouting tenure, she received numerous service awards. Debbie served as President of the PTA at Cypress Elementary School for several years, as well.

Once her children were older, Debbie returned to school at Chaffey College, where she received her Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies in 2002. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino in 2004, and her Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University in 2006. Debbie became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in 2011 and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in 2014. She also earned her certification as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) in 2015.

Debbie was passionate about working with at-risk youth and spent several years volunteering with the San Bernardino County Juvenile Probation Department. She also worked at Operation SafeHouse, in Riverside, and was involved with the California Coalition For Youth. In 2009, Debbie and her sister, Cathy Palmer, opened Chrysalis Family Counseling Center, located in Downtown Riverside, which they operated until November 2019. Debbie then went to work at ACT Family Counseling Service, in Rancho Cucamonga, where she worked until her death.

Debbie’s family and friends were very important to her. She loved taking family vacations and having family gatherings and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. In recent years, she frequently traveled to Lake Havasu to visit her best friend, who she spent many hours crafting with. Debbie loved holidays, especially Christmas, and her house would always be festively decorated. She loved gardening, taking great pride in her rose and vegetable gardens, as well as her fruit trees. She enjoyed shopping and having dinner with her sister or friends and was very devoted to her two fur babies, a dachshund named Bodie and a chiweenie named Harley.

Debbie is survived by her sons: Sean (and wife, Elizabeth), of Montclair; Ryan (and wife, Brandi), of Fontana; Jeremy (and fiancée, Val Faucher), of Fontana; and Kevin, of Phelan. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Jourdan and Nathan Zimmerman (and great-grandson Mateo), Devin Gonzalez, Samantha Palmer Diaz, Aracelli Palmer, Benjamin Palmer, Madison Ellis, Kyra Palmer, Savanah Palmer, Corbin Palmer, Rian Sporlien, Alexander Sporlien, and Logan Sporlien. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Brett Palmer, of La Verne; her sister, Betty Jackson, of San Diego; her sister-in-law, Sheryl Elen, of Washington; her mother-in-law, Rose Palmer, of Washington; her nephew, Michael Palmer (and Jenna Loiacano, and sons, Michael, Jr., Brandon, Alexander, and Matthew); her niece, Kristina Palmer; her nephew, Eric Palmer; her niece, Pattye Grippo; her niece, Cheryl Gutierrez (and husband, Gilbert); her nephew, Kenneth Jackson; and her niece, Nicole Shepherd (and husband, Hoyt, and children). Debbie was preceded in death by her loving husband of 36 years, Donald Robert Palmer, and by her parents, William and Joyce Taylor.

Debbie will be dearly missed by her family and friends, and her passing will truly leave a void in their hearts and their lives. She will be remembered as a very warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Because of her faith in the Lord, Debbie’s family and friends are reassured and comforted by the knowledge that she is with her Savior in Heaven and that they will be reunited with her again one day.

A Memorial Service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 920 West Sixth Street, Ontario, California, on Friday, February 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM. A private interment was held at Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, California. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to either City Of Hope, Duarte, California, or Operation SafeHouse, 9685 Hayes Street, Riverside, California 92503.

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