Obituary of Deborah Parnell

On February 16th, Deborah Ann Parnell passed away at her home. Deborah (Debby) Ann Parnell was born in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 13, 1949 to William and Marie Swancutt. Debby was raised in Eugene and lived the majority of her life there. As a child she enjoyed riding and showing horses, a hobby she continued throughout her life. She graduated from Sheldon High School and went on to study at Oregon State University. In 1980 she began her life long career at River Road Medical Group and later helped to form Willamette Valley Clinical Studies. On August 14, 1982 in the company of family and friends, Debby married the love of her life, Ray Parnell. Debby and Ray raised three children taking great pride in their accomplishments. She was proud to have a home where all the kids' friends felt welcome and enjoyed hanging out at. She always had a stocked fridge and loved to cook for everyone. Debby was well known for her cheering at the kids sporting events and had a great time being a part of the Sheldon Booster Club. In 1995 Ray and Debby found their dream home and moved to Triangle Lake, Oregon. Debby was an outspoken and well liked community member. She enjoyed volunteering and attending local fundraisers and auctions to benefit the school and community. She served on the Triangle Lake Charter School board and the Lake Creek Fire Department. Debby had many talents and hobbies including cooking, canning, playing cards with friends, travel, shopping, horse shows, dog shows, and of course attending Oregon State football games. She loved to travel with her dear friend Dr. Patrica Buchanan, in recent years they went to Hawaii, France and Italy together. The light of Debby's life without question was her grandchildren. She was head over heels in love with her five grandchildren and rarely missed an opportunity to babysit. She was a major part of their lives and attended all of the grandkids' athletic events, school events and birthday parties. It's safe to say that if it was important to her grandkids, it was important to her. Her grandchildren absolutely adored her. Debby was preceded in death by her daughter Jacqueline Marie Smith and is survived by her husband Raymond Parnell, sons James Robert Eckley Jr. and Douglas Edward Eckley, their wives Jessica and Corey, five grandchildren, her mother Marie Swancutt, sister Laurie Wilson (Everett, WA), brother William Swancutt II (Salem OR) and brother Mark Swancutt (Boise, ID). A celebration of a life well lived will be held Saturday, February 27 at noon at the Triangle Lake Charter School gymnasium. Feel free to wear orange and black in her honor.