Deborah “Debbie” Gayle Simpson

April 16, 1959 - August 2, 2026

Deborah “Debbie” Gayle Simpson passed away peacefully at home on August 2, 2026, surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer.

Debbie was the proud mother of three children, Kesha Farray, Carl Simpson, and Amy Calaway. More than anything, being a mother and spending time with her family were at the center of her life.

She raised her three children largely on her own as a single mother. It wasn't always easy, but she did an incredible job of creating a home filled with love, laughter, and memories. She worked hard, loved her children fiercely, and was always there for them, even when she had absolutely no idea what she was getting herself into.

That strength and work ethic became part of what Debbie passed on to her children. Her oldest daughter, Kesha, remembers her this way:

“The Mom who taught me the best thing in life, how to hustle and never give up!! It taught me how to be unbelievably strong and how to handle this thing called life, which is instilled in me and to be passed along! Love you Mom.”

- Kesha

One memory that captures the kind of mother Debbie was came when Carl was around 14 or 15. He had discovered how much he loved hunting and wanted to spend a weekend hunting the state land near Chugwater, but the family friend who normally took him wasn't available. When he told his mom, her answer was simple: “Ok, well let's go then, me and you.”

They arrived before daylight and started making their way up the canyon together. Debbie knew next to nothing about deer hunting and was terrified of the heights, at one point holding onto the tiny sagebrush for everything she had. But she kept climbing. It didn't matter that hunting wasn't her thing. It mattered to her son, so she went.

Her youngest daughter, Amy, remembers that same willingness to show up as one of the things that made her mom who she was:

“I will forever remember my mom for her spontaneous witty personality that I was lucky enough to have passed down to me. She was always ready to go on an adventure. Whether that be for sports, just to go for a drive or to get some food, she was ready. She was the mom who showed up no matter what. To know her is without a doubt to love her.”

- Amy

Debbie worked at Sierra Trading Post for more than 20 years and took great pride in her work.

Outside of work, she loved cooking and baking, watching cooking shows, going out to eat, and spending time around the table with the people she loved. Mexican food was always a favorite. She loved a good barbecue and took tremendous pride in her yard and home.

Debbie was unapologetically herself. She had a little attitude, a great sense of humor, and you rarely had to wonder what she was thinking. Even when she tried to keep something to herself, her face usually gave her away long before the words ever did. It was simply part of who she was, and those who knew and loved her wouldn't have wanted her any other way.

Debbie set the standard for what it meant to be a great mom. As her children grew, she was more than their mother. At different times in each of their lives, she was also their best friend, their biggest supporter, and the person they could count on. She was the center of their little family and an absolute inspiration to all three of her children.

That same loyalty extended to her friendships. Debbie was a friend worth having. If someone she cared about needed her, she would go out of her way to help. She showed up for the people she loved, whether they were family or friends, and expected very little in return.

She was strong, independent, funny, loving, and fiercely devoted to her family. The life she built wasn't defined by having everything easy. It was defined by what she did with what she had and by the love she gave her children along the way.

Debbie will be deeply missed, but the home she created, the laughter she brought into it, the meals she made, the memories she gave her family, and the lessons she taught her children will live on through them and the generations that follow.

Her family invites those who knew Debbie to remember her not only for how much she loved them, but for exactly who she was: a mother who worked hard, loved hard, laughed often, spoke her mind, and whose face usually said it first.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life for Debbie will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Romero Park in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Family, friends, and children are all welcome.

In true Debbie fashion, this won't be a formal or somber gathering. We want it to be relaxed, family-oriented, and full of the things that made being around her special. Come share a story, crack a joke, laugh together, and remember all the things we loved about Debbie.

Most of all, come as you are and help us celebrate a woman who meant so much to so many.