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Debi, the oldest of three daughters of Frank and Betty Clayton, grew up in Yuma, Arizona, helping her family to run their feedlot business, raising thousands of head of cattle during her youth there. Graduating from the University of Arizona, she swore off the desert and made her way to the Bay Area in the early 1970s, where she met the love of her life, Tom White, and the two were married in 1974. Two sons, Matt and Michael, soon came, and the young family settled in Moraga in 1979.
For over 40 years, Debi was a fixture of the Moraga community. She involved herself with numerous local organizations, including the Moraga Junior Women's Club, Meals on Wheels, the Moraga Baseball Association, and the Moraga Ranch Swim Club, to name a few. Most notably, she worked as a teaching assistant at Camino Pablo Elementary School for 15 years, partnered with the legendary fifth-grade teacher, Glenn Robak, with whom she helped to educate Moraga's youth.
Debi was a devoted mother who loved spending time with her family. She relished in planning gatherings to bring the family together, including organizing Thanksgiving feasts each year for 35, Christmas trips to Paso Robles, where her parents and sisters relocated, and the annual family week at Tahoe Taverns, coordinating accommodations for 20. Her organizational abilities were unmatched.
In her second act, Debi partnered her knack for planning with her passion for travel by becoming a travel consultant in the early 2000s. For the next 20 years she expertly planned countless worldwide trips for customers, family, and friends. With their rotating "Travel Tribe," Debi and Tom traveled the world, experiencing diverse cultures, creating indelible memories, and developing deep personal connections with their companions. Debi's motto was "Life is too short to take a bad trip!"
Debi is survived by her husband of 48 years, her sons, daughters-in-law Jessica and Amanda, her three beloved grandchildren, Harper, Jonah, and Everett, and her two sisters, Suzie Rava and Pam Wilken. Beyond that she leaves behind an extensive network of friends and family that have been so supportive over these past few months. During her final days testimonials poured in from extended family, sorority sisters, book club cohorts, professional group members, travel companions, Moraga Ranch buddies, co-workers, fellow Indian Guides families, and numerous others who were touched by Debi during her lifetime. While ending too soon, Debi lived a full and rich life, leaving no stone unturned. Above all else, she will be remembered for her positivity, her sense of humor, and her head on approach to life.
A celebration of Debi's life will be held in November. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Debi's name to the Helen Diller Cancer Center at UCSF or to Hospice East Bay.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA