Deborah Lewis "Debbie" Meise

1953 - 2025

Deborah "Debbie" Lewis Meise

May 7, 1953 - September 2, 2025

Deborah "Debbie" Lewis Meise, passed away from Parotid Gland Cancer (Mucoepidermoid carcinoma) on September 2, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Christine Lewis; her younger brother, Jay Lewis; and her brother-in-law, Dave Collins.

Debbie is survived by her husband, John J. Meise, Sr.; her children, Erika Quesenberry (Husband Ross) and John J. Meise, Jr.; her sisters, Linda Lewis Collins, Fay Lewis, and Melody Collie (Husband David); and her brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Peggy Meise. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Paul Lewis; Jacob Collie (Wife Tanya); Robyn (Andrew) Collie; Zachary Collie (Wife Dana); Mark Collie; Michael Collins (fiancée Leanna); Matthew Collins; Matthew Meise; David Meise; and Elizabeth Meise; and by her grandnieces and grandnephews: Nathaniel, Noah, Hannah, Lilyanne, Ethan, and Ezra Collie.

Family meant everything to Debbie. She was deeply devoted to the people she loved, and they loved her just as fiercely in return. She was selfless, generous, had a loving spirit, and we were blessed to have her in our lives. Music was one of Debbie's lifelong loves, especially The Beatles. What began in her early years became a signature part of who she was: collecting albums, clothes, puzzles, calendars, books, even LEGO kits. It rubbed off on the people around her, and Beatles-themed gifts were always a hit. Music was such a big part of her life, and she was an enthusiastic concert-goer, attending shows around the country with her daughter, husband, and family. Although she loved all kinds of music, the Beatles were her hands-down favorite.

Another great love was baseball. In her late teens and early twenties, she spent countless nights at local minor-league games, sharing many adventures with her sisters. Along the way she befriended players who later reached the majors, including several who were part of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series team, something not many fans can say. When the new baseball park was built in the 90s for the local minor-league team, it rekindled her love of baseball, and she began attending games so often that she and her husband became front-row season ticket holders for more than 20 years.

Debbie loved to travel, by land and sea. She crossed the country with her husband for conventions and family trips. The beach was her happy place. In time, she and her husband purchased an oceanfront condo in North Myrtle Beach, which let her visit more often and build new memories.

She had many other loves including dancing (especially disco), attending Broadway musicals in New York City, admiring Ford Mustangs from afar, baking, bowling (she was quite good), cruising (her favorite kind of vacation), visiting Disney World, the New York Yankees, being a Mom, gathering around the kitchen table for coffee and conversation, and so much more.

Friends may visit with the family from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem.

A Mass to celebrate her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church, 4730 Cove Rd, Roanoke, VA 24017, with Fr. George Zina officiating. The interment will be held at 1 p.m. at the Resurrection Catholic Church Cemetery, 15353 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA 24121.

To honor Debbie's memory, the family invites donations supporting research into salivary gland cancer to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

We would like to specifically thank Hollie Craighead Johnson with Good Samaritan Hospice for going above and beyond, as well as the Roanoke City Fire-EMS.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting, www.johnmoakey.com.