Deborah Jean Walsh passed peacefully into the hands of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 16, 2021. Debbie was born in Bakersfield California, where her father was a ranch and field foreman for a major corporate agricultural concern just west of the city. She had fond memories of vacations on Pismo Beach CA, as well as, visits to Disneyland and the San Diego zoo. She also had fond memories of music concerts in Bakersfield with her parents and siblings, where musicians which included both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard were formulating a style of music that is commonly now known the world over as the "Bakersfield Sound".

Debbie's family moved back to central Missouri in the late 1960's, and she graduated from Cairo, MO High School in 1973. She furthered her higher education at Moberly Area Junior College, Central Missouri State University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from Missouri State University in 1979.

She then embarked on an educational career, beginning as a home economics teacher at Morrisville High School in Morrisville, MO in 1979-1980, and at Oakdale Jr. High School in Rogers, AR from 1980-1984. In 1992, Debbie began a career spanning 27 years as a kindergarten assistant at Little Rock Christian Academy, retiring in 2019.

Debbie's hobbies included hosta and vegetable gardening, sewing, music, and reading. Reading was an integral part of Debbie's teaching career at LRCA, and in her two years of retirement she imparted her reading and storytelling skills to her granddaughter 4-5 times per week with the joy that only a grandmother can appreciate.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil T and Ruby J. Deatherage, along with two grandsons, Michael and Adam Huffty. She is survived by her husband of nearly 41 years, Mike Walsh of Little Rock; a daughter, Jessica Huffty and her spouse, Justin Huffty of Benton, AR; a granddaughter, Audrey Huffty; a brother, George Deatherage (Mary) of Aurora, MO, a sister Connie Deatherage of Columbia, MO, a nephew, two nieces, and a great nephew and great niece.

The immediate family would like to personally thank Dr. Rhonda Gentry of CARTI Little Rock along with her supporting staff for providing Debbie with the medical expertise and the loving spirit that so enhanced Debbie's life over the seven years she battled cancer.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 2020 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 (501) 224-8300. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1 Covenant Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 with Reverend Tim Reed presiding. He will be assisted by Reverend Derek Coyle. A graveside service will be held at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Springfield, MO on Sat. April 24th at 3:00 p.m. with Reverend Reed Dunn presiding, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund at Covenant Presbyterian Church, CARTI Little Rock, and the tuition assistance fund at Little Rock Christian Academy.