West Brookfield - Deborah Lee Black (Baldwin), 70, of West Brookfield, Massachusetts passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025. Deborah was born at Union City Hospital in Anna Illinois on March 2, 1955, to the late Walter and Thelma (Groves) Baldwin.
She graduated cosmetology school in Illinois back in 1981 and was a hairdresser for over 40 years. She moved to Massachusetts in 2001 and opened her own salon in Warren, for many years. For the last 15 years, she has been with her loving fiancé, Clarence “Butch” Smith. Together, they were long-time members of the Eagles Club in Warren. She would cook meals at the club and people would come from miles around. She showed her love for others through the delicious food she prepared.
Deborah married Dick Black in 1986 and together they had one daughter, Kelsey Black, who resides in Oklahoma. She had 2 beautiful grandchildren, Autumn Shorette, 17, and Ryder Wardwell, 14, of Oklahoma.
Deborah was the youngest child of Walter and Thelma Baldwin and is survived and forever loved by her daughter Kelsey Black, granddaughter Autumn Shorette, grandson Ryder Wardwell, brothers Glenn Baldwin of Illinois, Larry Bartlett of Missouri, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Ruby Theis, Mary Burchyett, and Vickie Mayberry as well as her brothers, Kenneth Darnell, William Darnell, Howard Baldwin, and Robert Baldwin.
A Celebration of Life for Deborah will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2025, from 1 to 5pm in the Eagles Club in West Warren. Varnum Funeral Home, 43 East Main Street in West Brookfield, is assisting her family with her arrangements. An online tribute page is available at varnumfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
43 East Main St. PO Box 1, West Brookfield, MA 01585

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