Deborah Lea Van Winkle Deborah Lea Van Winkle, 65, passed away Jan. 16, 2021, with her sister Vicky (best friend) and brother in-law by her side at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Her passing was not COVID related, but due to the pandemic she declined quickly when visitations stopped. Deborah was born Dec. 26, 1955, in Scott City, Kan., to Ronald and Lettie Zenor. She was the oldest of four children. As a child, she and her siblings had a blast watching their dad race at local race tracks, working in their family’s cafe and on the farm. She spent her childhood years in Dighton, Kan., and Denver, Color., before moving to Arizona her senior year and graduating from Trevor Browne High School in 1974. In college she studied nursing and cosmetology. She returned to Kansas and had four children of her own. In 1992 she found her sense of belonging in Snowflake to raise her family and met many lifelong friends. She loved the small town and seeing familiar faces anywhere she went. A five minute grocery store stop would turn into a 45 minute catching up with a friend. She taught her children many things, from baking and cooking, to how to be loving parents to their own children. She also showed them how to work hard and with God by their side anything is possible. She worked in the Snowflake School District for over 10 years and enjoyed the opportunity of working with the kids. She was the most kind, caring and forgiving person anyone could have ever met. Many kids thought of her as a role model and second mom. In 2005 she began working for Brimhall Sand & Rock. It was there where she found her prince charming Curtis. They loved to be with each other and around each other until his passing in 2010. She ultimately had to quit working in 2014 due to health issues. Throughout her life she held many various jobs, but her lifelong passion was her family. Nothing gave her greater pleasure than raising her children and spending time with her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by her precious babies. The last few years she adored watching her precious babies grow and thrive. She couldn’t have been more proud of all of them! Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Catherine Jones, Kenneth (Randi) Wright, Kimberly (Brandon) Queen, Kristen (Joe) Martinez and bonus children, CJ Van Winkle and Tanner Chapman; 10 grandchildren, Michelle and Savannah Jones, Matthew, Timothy, Addilynn and Kaleb Wright, Gregory and Jerri Ann Queen, and Christopher Cummings and Aubrey Martinez; one great-grandson, Jordan Mendibles; siblings, Vicky (Jim) Netcott and Vance Zenor; niece, Alana (Jeff) Bing and nephew Daniel Brown; and many other extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ronald and Lettie; sister, Diane; fiancé Curtis Chapman; and many other beloved relatives. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
