Lifelong Sandy resident, Debbie Chesnut passed away at her home with her family by her side after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, September 8, 2016. She was 61.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church in Sandy on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. A Celebration of her life will follow with food and beverage in the reception hall.
She was born, Debra Ann Harding on April 19, 1955 in Portland to Warren Willard and Lois Earlene (Brant) Harding. She was the only daughter and the fourth child of five. In the fall of 1958, the family moved to Allgeier road in Sandy, an 80 acre ranch where she was raised. At an early age, she was milking cows, running cattle, raising horses, gathering eggs and helping her mother tend the home with the gardening and the cooking. Debbie was active in horse 4-H and during her high school years, she was active in band and the swim team. Debbie received her elementary schooling at Sandy Grade School and graduated from Sandy High School in 1973 with honors. One year after high school, she and her friend Marlene moved in together and remained in Sandy. Debbie furthered her education and attended Mt. Hood Community College where she received her EMT Certification, graduating in 1975.
After graduation, she began her career in the medical field and was employed at Rest Harbor Nursing Care and was a volunteer with Sandy Fire Department. In 1974, Debbie worked as a school bus driver for a short time prior to entering the U.S. Army in 1975. Throughout her Military Service, Debbie worked part time as a school bus driver and continued her volunteer service with the Sandy Fire Department. Debbie met her future husband Michael while she was volunteering at the Fire Department and they were later married on February 5, 1977 at the Presbyterian Church in Sandy. They made their home in Sandy where Debbie pursued her career as a school bus driver. On May 18, 1980 the same day that Mt. St. Helen’s erupted, their one and only pride and joy Timothy was born. Debbie went to work at Shorty’s Corner in 1991 as a cashier until 2003. After 41 years of driving school bus, Debbie retired due to health reasons.
Debbie loved horses all of her life and her passion and experience made her an excellent equestrian rider. She also had a love for hunting, fishing, scuba diving, camping, gardening and cooking good food which she loved to share with her family and friends. Debbie was a very talented woman and enjoyed doing cross stitch, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She had a generational passion for the women of her family, taking what was instilled in her as a child and carrying it on throughout her life. Debbie was a 4-H Equestrian Leader and was actively involved in FFA. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and had a heart for others. Debbie loved her home, her community and her family.
Surviving is her son Tim; her mother, Lois Harding Dyal, her brothers, Rod (Karen), Doug and Warren Harding and Tom Chesnut; her sisters, Bonnie Harding, Donna Bean and Marlene Lundeen; 3 grandson, Tannon, Tanko and Taiyo Chesnut; 9 great grandchildren; 13 nieces and nephews; 16 great nieces and nephews and 9 great great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Michael in 2015, her brother Malvin Harding also in 2015, her sister Barbara Chesnut Kubitz in 2007 and her father Warren in 1972.