Debra Carol Peterson Adair, our beloved wife, mother and daughter passed away peacefully on April 8, 2014. Her husband Larry was at her bedside. We are comforted knowing she is now resting peacefully in the presence of the Lord who she loved and served all the days of her life. She is finally free from her struggles with the disease that slowly disintegrated her physical self. Throughout her 25 years since her first diagnosis with Spino Cerebellar Ataxia 3, she fought bravely and had the strongest desire to keep on living the life she had been given and never failed to smile whenever something touched her heart, even when she could no longer speak.

She devoted her life to her family and she and Larry raised their two sons in a Christ-centered home. She loved them so, and she “lit up” when seeing them or talking about them.

She was born Dec. 2, 1958, and her home was on Camano Island, but her growing-up years were spent on Bainbridge Island where she belonged to the Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church. While there she helped with Sunday school and was a camp counselor at Buck Creek Camp. She graduated from Bainbridge High School in the class of 1977.

She excelled in school and was also a talented artist. She attended Whitman College, University of California at Santa Barbara and received her BA degree from the San Francisco Art Academy. After working for many years in the graphic arts field, she began her career in watercolor painting and she has left a legacy of her beautiful work and talent.

Debi had such a kind, cheerful soul and she will be greatly missed by her husband Larry, sons Kristian and Andy, mother and step father Pat and Mike Clementz, brother Steve Peterson (Tami), Mark Peterson (Lea Ann), and Eric Peterson and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Donald Peterson and grandparents Carol and Ralph Anderson.

A celebration of her life is to be held at the Camano Chapel on Camano Island at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 followed by a potluck get-together. A guest book can be signed online at www.floralhillslynwood.com and then select obituaries.

Any memorial donations may be made to the National Ataxia Foundation, 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite 119, Minneapolis, MN 55447-4752.