Deborah Leann Stricker

A Daughter, a Wife, a Mother, a Grandmother, a Sister, an Aunt, and a Friend, who loved life and loved people more, passed away on September 7th from complications of Stage Four Lung Cancer at her home in Denver, CO. She was 64. Debbie, or Deb, as she preferred, is survived by her partner of 17 years Doug Benninghoven, her son Brandon (Lindley) McCrary, daughter Sarah (Bo) Larsen, her mother and father Dee and Ray Lowe, her grandchildren, Riley, Isabelle, Logan, Olivia, Ian, Meriah, Laylah, Niko, Jacoby, Adalynn, Annabelle, and Alana. Her sister Nancy, brothers Dan and David, and their families, and her furry children Silva and Roxy. Deb was born November 7, 1956 in Sacramento, CA where the family was based when her father Ray was discharged from the Air Force. Through a connection at his company in Sacramento, Ray got the unique opportunity with Martin Marietta in CO to work on testing of the Titan missile, and thus the family moved to Littleton Colorado in 1958. She started school in Littleton at East Elementary, and the family then moved to their longtime home in the Applewood area near Golden, CO when she was in 5th grade. From the age of 5, and for 10 years, Debbie was involved with a hula dancing group that performed fundraising events for special needs schools in Hawaii as well as performances for the veterans at Fitzsimons. She had great memories of the times each summer she and Nancy went to South Dakota to spend time with grandparents and extended family on the farm and in Yankton. Debbie graduated from Wheatridge High School in 1974. She then went to University of Northern Colorado, where she received a degree in Elementary Education. There she made many life-long friends, many of whom are still very close friends today. Debbie married her college sweetheart, Tim McCrary, and they became parents to Brandon in 1978. Tim and Debbie divorced and she later married David Stricker and they became proud parents of little Sarah Jo in 1983. Debbie raised her two children at the home she lived for the rest of her life in Denver, CO. Not long after Sarah was born, Deb pursued her Masters in Education. She spent 27 years as an elementary teacher in Denver Public Schools, focusing on 4th and 5th grade Math and Science. Debbie had the unique opportunity to substitute for Brandon’s 5th grade class, and of course she was the best sub he ever had! Deb had a tremendous passion for teaching and made long lasting positive impacts with the way she was able to connect with her students. In 2004, Deb found her soul mate, and life companion in Doug. They loved to travel and enjoyed numerous trips together including to Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, and throughout the US. We will remember Debbie for her joyful and fun spirit, her selfless desire and ability to care for others, and her lifelong love of the beauty of nature. She graciously helped people regardless of the problem they were facing, which happens to be a necessary quality of a good teacher! Debbie’s determination was inspiring, her courage was remarkable, and her love was contagious. Even in the toughest of times, she never gave up hope, and encouraged those around her to find the good in life.