On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Deborah 'Debby' Kay Gage passed away peacefully with her son, James Barber and daughter, Melissa New by her side. She was just two weeks shy of her 77th birthday.
Debby was born December 2, 1948, in San Jose, California, to Ruth Delena and WM Nelson "Billie" Gage. She was the beloved sister of Paul Edward Gage and James Lewis Gage. In 1960, Debby and her family moved to Lodi, California. She graduated from Lodi Union High School in 1966, where she was named the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow.
Shortly after graduating, she married Lonnie James Barber, a neighbor's son newly returned from the military. They welcomed their children, James William in 1967 and Melissa Anne in 1969.
The family moved to Salem, Oregon, in 1972. By 1974, Debby was a single mother with a plan. She worked as a medical transcription typist while attending Chemeketa Community College as a cultural anthropology student. She served as a Cub Scout den mother. Debby folk danced, protested nuclear weapons on the Oregon State Capitol steps and marched for women's rights.
One summer, Debby packed up the kids and headed to Dunster, Canada, to study artists and homesteaders Natasha and Carl Boyd.
In 1980, Debby earned her Bachelor's degree in Home Economics Education from Oregon State University, followed by a Master's in Education in 1988. She was only a few credits shy of completing her doctorate in Anthropology.
Debby enjoyed a 40-year teaching career-first at Sacred Heart Academy in Salem, Oregon, then at Wahtonka High School in The Dalles, Oregon, and finally at Battle Ground High School, where she retired in 2012.
Throughout her life, Debby cherished traveling, exploring new cultures, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews, her many cherished lifelong friends, loving cousins, Janice and Jane, and her beloved dogs, Rosie, Bella, and Olive. She lived in Vancouver, Washington for over 30 years.
Debby is survived by James and Jennifer Barber (grandchildren Aaron Barber and Nikolas Barber); Melissa and Robert New (grandchildren Jack New and Molly New). She is also survived by her brother, Paul Gage and sister-in-law Cathy Gage.
A celebration of Debby's life will be held in May 2026.
