Deborah Rae Koerner

Our beloved mother and wife was born in Boise, Idaho on March 26, 1952, to Max McCormick and Eva Rae Hobson. She was raised in Boise until her father passed away when she was 10, at which point she moved with her mother to the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City. She looked up to her older siblings, Dayleen and Daryl, and cherished her lifelong relationships with them.
Deb met the love of her life, John Koerner, in 1970 while attending Ricks College. They married in 1972 and transferred to Brigham Young University where she studied art history and child development, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon graduation, Deb and John settled in Dallas, Texas to raise their family.
John and their children were the light of her life. Passionate about motherhood, Deb created a nurturing home where her children could explore their interests and talents. She took great pride in maintaining a warm and inviting home for her children and their friends. Her greatest joy was seeing her family happy. As her children grew, she thrived professionally as a distinguished saleswoman at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, consistently ranking as a top sales associate for designer and semi-precious jewelry and earning recognition year after year. Deb succeeded at any endeavor she set her heart upon.
To know Deb was to love her. Life of the party, spitfire, sass-ball, vibrant, selfless, devoted, loyal, faithful, cheerleader, and best friend are just a few words that describe her. She greeted family and friends with a cheerful hello, a bright smile, and a warm hug. She loved her children's spouses as her own. Her energy was contagious, and she maintained her joy of life despite the challenges she faced. Deb bravely battled three forms of cancer during the last eight years of her life, never revealing the daily pain she endured. Her unwavering faith and testimony in her Savior, Jesus Christ, anchored her through difficult times. She was one-of-a-kind and a builder of people, leaving others feeling better after time spent with her. She listened, encouraged, and uplifted, making everyone feel loved and treasured.
Deb was a creator who saw the greatest potential in everyone and everything. She had a gift for taking objects of seemingly little significance and transforming them into special works of art. Her amazing talents for drawing, painting, and creating brought beauty to all around her. She loved jewelry for what it represented: art that inspired. She passed her passion for art, creation, determination, and joy to her spouse, children, and grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving husband, John Albert Koerner; her children Garrett John Koerner (spouse Emily), Preston Dean Koerner (spouse Tali), Kimberly Rae Koerner Mohlman (spouse Michael), and Allison Rae Koerner Wilcox; and her thirteen cherished grandchildren: Miles, Cannon, Dallas, Garrison, Xandrie, Crosby, Roxie, Kimball, Zeke, Everli, Grayson, Lincoln, and Olive. Her favorite gospel hymn was "There is a Green Hill Far Away," which reminded her of the Savior and her sons, Garrett and Preston, who served their missions in South Korea and Japan.
She was preceded in death by her father, Max McCormick Hobson; her mother, Eva Rae Hobson; and her sister, Dayleen LaVon Hobson Felt (2009)
A Celebration of Life open house will be held at Deb and John's Sandy home on May 17, from !:00 - 5:00 PM. Their home is located at 9312 S Redhaven Dr. Sandy, UT 84094