Deborah (Tubbs) Hill

Deborah (Tubbs) Hill, formerly of South Portland, Maine passed away on July 15, 2025.

"Debbie" was born on June 22, 1952, in Fort Worth, Texas to Orrin and Virginia Tubbs, who met and married while serving in the Air Force, at Carswell Air Force Base. After briefly living in Overland Park, Kansas and Mondovi, Wisconsin, in 1965 the family moved to her father's childhood home in Maine. In 1970 she graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School and continued her education at the University of Southern Maine.

Debbie was the office manager for Rheumatology Associates in Portland, Maine for over 20 years. Then in 1998, she and husband Ray moved to Scottsdale, Arizona to be close to son Andrew and his family. Debbie became an interior designer for New Home Interiors in Scottsdale, which she loved, as it allowed her to pursue her passion of interior design. She eventually went to work for The Vanguard Group, before retiring in 2014.

Debbie really enjoyed traveling, especially on riverboat cruises in Europe. She loved exploring the towns and sites along the rivers, and met many interesting people on these excursions. Some became lifelong friends that joined them on other trips throughout the years.

Debbie's favorite passion was decorating, and she had an artistic, creative flair that she inherited from her artist father. Over the years her homes were showcases of her talent and love of different art mediums and esthetics. You could often find Debbie browsing at any number of specialty shops. From country crafts to antiques, home decor to high end collectibles, she was in her element when she was poking around for that one special item. Debbie was also the consummate gift giver and took great pleasure in finding the perfect gift for loved ones and friends. That was her special love language and we were all beneficiaries of her wonderful generosity.

Another great love of Debbie's were her dogs over the years, and she was particularly fond of Labrador Retrievers. After their first lab passed away, Debbie and Ray began to adopt senior labs that needed homes. They lavished them with their time, attention, and love, as well as tending to physical and aging issues. It was a joy to see how fulfilling it was for Debbie, and how these labs rebounded when given the chance.

It would be remiss not to also mention Debbie's love of Wisconsin. Debbie's mother was born in Fountain City, Wisconsin, as one of six children that grew up on a dairy farm. Those vacation times in Wisconsin were some of Debbie's happiest memories growing up and throughout her adult life too, as she remained close to her extended family of cousins and their families.

Despite all those years of living in Arizona, Debbie remained a Maine girl at heart. She treasured every trip home to see her family and the dear friends that she had made over the years. And of course, the sights, sounds, and smells of the coast of Maine always called her back, along with her love of Maine cuisine, especially seafood.

Debbie is survived by Ray, her husband of 54 years, her son Andrew and his wife Krista, and her two grandchildren, Max and McKenna, all of Surprise, Arizona. She is also survived by her sister Rebecca Roberts of Mechanic Falls, Maine, niece Samantha Zigbuo of Naples, Maine, and nephew Alex Zigbuo of Powell, Ohio, as well as her cousins in Maine and Wisconsin.

Debbie's fun loving and generous spirit touched the lives of many. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

A celebration of Debbie's life will be held at a later date, to be determined. In honor of Debbie's life, donations can be made to your local Lab rescue, or to a charity of your choice.