Debra Laverne Arnold, a former Sitka resident, passed away on March 18 in Anchorage. She was 60.
Debbie, as she liked to go by, was born September 16, 1955, in Lewiston, Idaho, the daughter of Earl and Barbra (Wakefield) Arnold.
Debbie went to Sitka High School, where she met and married Gonzalo Pelayo Sr. in 1973. After high school she raised their four children.
In 1979, the family moved to Juneau. In 1990 she returned to Sitka, where she married Glenn Harriman. She resided here until Glenn’s passing in 1996.
She has lived with her significant other, Randy Yellowtail, in Anchorage for the last 20 years.
Debbie enjoyed sewing, making jewelry, fishing (with her dad), cooking, playing with her dogs, collecting various items, and spending time with her friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Barbara Arnold.
She is survived by her longtime boyfriend Randy Yellowtail; her daughters, Taleena Pelayo of Pasada, Wash., Trista Pelayo of Mill Creek, Wash., and Stephanie Potter (Rocky) of Lynnwood, Wash.; her son, Gonzalo Pelayo Jr. (Anna) of Pahoa, Hawaii; and grandchildren Kian, Damon, Jayden, Noelle, Tay, Mya, Joshua, Michael, Tristyn, Mason and Gonzalo III.
Her siblings are Steven Arnold of Tacoma, Wash.; Chuck Arnold of Anchorage; Pam Stose of Kaizer, Oregon; and Diane Arnold of Haines.
A memorial service will be held in Anchorage April 2, and a celebration of life in Washington with her children and family.
