Deborah Kaye Ordaz

Deborah “Debbie” Kaye Ordaz (nee Van Orsow) was a master at developing heartfelt connections and putting her soul into whatever project caught her fancy. She was fond of whimsy and strove to capture, memorialize, and thoroughly treasure life's little moments. Debbie, age 75, of Clackamas, OR, left our physical world on May 4, 2024.
  
Debbie was born on March 11, 1949, in Great Falls, MT, to parents Vern and Bev Van Orsow. Debbie had six siblings and was the oldest daughter, a role she took seriously. She enjoyed close relationships with her family and often spoke of her relatives with pride.
  
In her school days, Debbie enjoyed dancing, particularly in her swing dance club, and aspired to teach home economics. She was an incredible seamstress, crafter, cook, and homemaker. She formed a lifelong friendship with Ruth, who always kept her laughing with her quick wit and hilarious turn of phrase. Debbie graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1967.
  
At one of her brother’s softball games, she met Pat Murphy, who impressed her with his big personality and charismatic flair for drama. The pair married in 1968, had daughters Heather and Holly, and moved to Fairfield, CA. Unfortunately, they ultimately grew apart, and officially divorced in 1991.
  
Heather introduced Debbie to Don Ordaz in 1990 at a band review. Where Debbie tended to be reserved, Don was gregarious and a little mischievous. Naturally, this meant they became fast friends, an inseparable couple, then married at a last-minute, surprise wedding in 1994. Debbie often spoke of Don as being her best friend and the love of her life. Debbie loved to reminisce about the many adventures they shared and the vibrant social life they enjoyed together, often the result of Don’s failure to inform her of invitations and obligations until mere hours beforehand. 
  
Debbie was the proud mother to two children, Heather and Holly, and, after marrying Don, happily inherited three step-children, Donny, Maggie, and Broc. Debbie was grandmother to ten and great-grandmother to six. She cherished making memories together and was delighted to be actively involved in the lives of her family.
  
Debbie retired as a legal assistant in Vancouver, WA; however, for many of her working years, she was a title officer in the California real estate industry, having worked her way up from secretary to manager throughout the years. While at First American Title, she performed with a handful of coworkers in a multitude of internal comedic skits and songs, often creating wacky costumes that would elicit laughter on their own. 
  
Throughout her life, Debbie was a creative soul. For a time, Debbie was a member of her church choir, and she loved to sing in the car with her kids. She was well-known for her handmade cards, which she always stamped on the back with a little bee (the Hebrew meaning of her name). She was a longtime amateur photographer, ever humble about her skills and talented eye. Debbie loved to scrapbook, later getting into digital scrapbooking as well. She loved the fanciful nature of anything steampunk. She also loved finely crafted leather items and was proud to be a well-known and beloved insider for Portland Leather Goods, including being recently featured in print with fellow insiders.
  
Debbie loved to travel and held a particular love for France. She shared many travels with her friend Ted, most recently visiting Italy. She was an avid fan of the Oregon Country Fair and loved to attend Renaissance Faire, both for the inclusivity of the community and the joy of people-watching. Debbie was known for being a loyal cheerleader, always willing to lend a hand and support the dreams and passions of her friends and family. She applied this same devotion to her love of music, especially for the Band of Heathens.
  
Debbie will always be remembered for her warm personality, wit, and tendency to put everyone’s needs before her own. She lived a life full of small pleasures and deep loves. The motto she lived by was, “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WHOO HOO, what a ride!”
  
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents Vernon and Beverly, her brother John, and her husband Don Ordaz. She is survived by daughters Heather (Aaron) Carr and Holly Merritt; step-children Don “Donny” Ordaz, Margaret “Maggie” (George) Sharp, and Anthony “Broc” Ordaz; grandchildren Catherine, Jacob, Lawrence, Mariah, Alexis, Kassidy, Bailey, Zoey, Britney, and Abigail; six great-grandchildren; siblings Michael “Mike” Van Orsow, Robert “Bob” (Cathy) Van Orsow, Julie (James) Jones, Barbara “Barb” (Jack) Robey, and Kerry (Rick) Naylor; and an unfathomable number of hearts who considered her family. Her loss leaves a void in too many lives. We would give anything for one more batch of white chocolate popcorn, another shared concert, and several hundred more hugs. Debbie will be dearly missed.
  
A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 15, 2024, beginning with a viewing at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at Sacred Heart Fellowship Hall beginning at 12 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Debbie was an avid fan and supporter of Band of Heathens. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the band via https://bandofheathens.square.site/ would be greatly appreciated.