Deborah Arnold

1957 - 2021

Deborah Arnold

August 29, 1957 - February 8, 2021

Deborah "Debbie" Arnold, age 63, of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away on February 8, 2021, after a brave battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS).

Born in Miles City, Montana, in 1957, to Ann and Harold Arnold, Debbie traveled throughout the country with her military family, including her brother, Greg Arnold, eventually settling in Grand Junction, Colorado, for much of her adult life. In 1979, she married James L. Fromm, with whom she had three children, Christopher Fromm, of Grand Junction; Megan Fromm, also of Grand Junction, and Maggie (Fromm) Ray, of Largo, Maryland. All three were born and raised in Grand Junction, eventually with Debbie's partner of many years. In 2015, Debbie moved to Spokane, Washington, where she enjoyed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, especially the Coeur d'Alene region in Idaho, where she had planned to retire prior to her diagnosis with ALS. She returned to Grand Junction in 2019 to be closer to family during her illness.

Those who knew her will remember always that she loved the little things, literally and figuratively: fairies, elves, angels, animals, babies, children, good wine and coffee, great food, and beautiful music. She delighted in the fun and fantastical and whimsical, and she enjoyed hearing good stories from just about anyone. She had a deep desire to help people heal and be healthy, which fueled her careers as a massage therapist and also as a social worker. She dreamed big, and she believed anything was possible. She was truly a free spirit, and now her spirit is truly free.

Debbie is survived by her mom, Ann; brother, Greg; her three children; sons-in-law, Michael Orcutt and Jason Ray; grandsons, Xavier Ray and Alexander Ray; four-legged fur-child, Cooper, as well as numerous friends and family who she loved dearly and who loved her in return.

There are no services scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the University of Pittsburgh ALS center (https://www.alsclinic.pitt.edu/) and Matt's Place Foundation (https://www.mattsplacefoundation.org/), both organizations dear to Debbie's heart as she fought this terrible disease. The family is grateful to the professional and kind support of HopeWest Hospice for helping to provide care in her final months.