Debbie Willis McEwan

Debbie passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025 at her home in Bend, Oregon with her loving family at her side. She was born to William and Beverly Van Dessel on October 12, 1950, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In her youth, her family moved frequently with stops in New York, California, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Debbie graduated from high school in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where she earned a degree in sociology and met her future husband, Richard. After five-year stays in Las Vegas, Nevada, where her son, Sean, was born, and Columbus, Ohio, where her daughter, Erin, was born, Debbie and her family moved to Boca Raton, Florida. There she worked as a classroom and library assistant in the Palm Beach County School District for over 25 years before retiring in 2013. After retiring, she became a dedicated volunteer at Boca Helping Hands. Debbie and Richard relocated to Bend, Oregon in 2015. In Bend, she threw her energy into volunteering at The Giving Plate and the Deschutes Public Library. Debbie was beyond generous and loved helping people and animals. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Beverly Van Dessel, and her sister, Linda Van Dessel. She is survived by her husband, Richard McEwan, their children Sean (Carrie) and Erin (Christopher), grandsons Callum and Evan, and her beloved cats, Maddie and Mollie. We will all miss her dearly. A memorial gathering will be held at The Giving Plate's Distribution Center (1212 NE 1st St, Bend, OR 97701) on Saturday, August 23rd at 2pm in the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Giving Plate (https://www.thegivingplate.org. If you make a donation on The Giving Plate's website, please be sure to include in the note it is in memory of Debbie McEwan. The family is also planning a gathering in Florida this winter for friends and family that are on the east coast.