Deborah Sue Fuson – September 24, 2020

February 8, 1956 loved through September 24, 2020 and forever after

Beloved Wife, Mother and Faithful Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Deborah, 64, shed her earthly vessel and prepared to meet her beloved Creator face-to-face on September 24, 2020. She was deeply loved and cherished by friends and family from the very beginning and will be profoundly missed forevermore.

Born February 8, 1956, in Monroe, Michigan, to Curtis Eugene Ayers and Nellie (Bowlin) Ayers, Deborah grew up there and attended Monroe High School.

She met the love of her life, hero, confidant and husband, John Aaron Fuson, in Monroe. The two married at age 17 on May 12, 1973, in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, at First Baptist Church Cumberland Gap. The preacher hummed the wedding march, since they’d sweetly forgotten to hire a pianist.

Deborah loved all her children equally and deeply: Denver, Kelly, Neisha and John Caleb (who sadly was lost in a miscarriage but never forgotten). They were the sparkle in her eyes and the delight of her day. She never ceased thinking of them, and most importantly, praying for them. This delight and fervent love extended to her grandchildren as well: Johnathan, Jessica, Alex, Riley, Grace, Dakota, Braden and Reese.

Deborah was in awe of God’s creation, expressing an eagerness to greet the sun as it rose to announce a new day. She loved the experience of traveling and taking on new adventures. Deborah, alongside her beloved husband, was able to cherish those moments and lived in several states including Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia and finally Colorado. Deborah was loving and supportive, following her husband as he served in the military, ministry and other occupational pursuits. She was always a faithful, devoted, and loving wife.

Deborah worked hard in any position she held, while always being happy to support and contribute to her family and their needs. Her beautiful disposition allowed her the ease to find work. Although she applied herself in every position she held — food preparation, clerical, medical, child care, health coach or hospitality — she was most proud and honored to be in service for the Lord.

She served in ministry, dutifully helping her husband with church plants and mission work, either directly, or financially, by taking on extra work when needed. She even served as a professors’ assistant while her husband attended seminary. Deborah served at Focus on the Family for eight years. It gave her a great sense of satisfaction to know she was helping Dr. Dobson reach and minister to families. She also served at Compassion International whose outreach encompasses the physical and spiritual needs of children throughout the world. Finally, she served at Button Family Practice P.C. where she filled many roles, but most endearing was her loving relationship with the Button’s and their children.  

Deborah loved sunrises and sunsets, the colors of the trees as they changed in autumn, the beauty of the ocean, and the majesty of the mountains. She liked to try her hand at crafts and as of late had become talented at crochet. She always had a song in her heart and on her lips. She passed this love of music down to her children.

She loved to cook — becoming the best biscuits & gravy maker “in three states.” Some of her favorite things were to make people feel special and cared for. She loved to give foot massages and back rubs, and became quite the masseuse — often reflecting on how she thought about going to be professionally trained in massage. She cared for all people with immense compassion and sacrifice. Never lacking in enthusiasm and strength, Deborah was known to cheer “God is good all the time…and all the time God is good,” even through her five-year long war with cancer.

A devoted follower of Jesus, she spent many hours a day reading Scripture, singing praises to her King, and praying for her loved ones. Her friends concur that her character radiated and reflected Jesus. She attended Evangelical Free Church in Cañon City, Colorado, at the time of her passing.

With Cherokee Indian heritage, Deborah had beautiful olive skin, high cheek bones, dark brown hair and the sweetest dimples.

She is survived by her loving husband John; children Denver (Becky), Kelly, and Neisha (Blake); grandchildren Johnathan, Jessica, Alex, Riley, Grace, Dakota, Braden, and Reese; father Curtis (JoAnne); sister Virginia (David) Adkins; brother Mike (Denise) Ayers; half-brother Eugene Ayers; step-siblings Jeff (Karen) Fleeman, Jimmy (Julie) Fleeman, Linda (David) Fultz, Sandy Staton; uncle Larry (Linda) Bowlin; nephews Joe (Angie) Ayers, Jason (Amy) Miller, David Jr. (Mary Thullen) Miller; nieces Stephanie (Ed) Warner, Kim (Tim) LaRoy, Eva Knowlton; and many great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Deborah was preceded in death by her grandparents, Guy and Pearl Bowlin, and Hubert and Lydia Ayers; mother Nellie; sister Judy (David) Miller; brother Dennis (Kathy) Ayers; half-brother Randall Ayers; aunts Juanita Bowlin and Ethel Norton; uncles Bill Bowlin, Roy Bowlin, Clyde (Patsy) Ayers, and David Ayers; niece Jamie (Tracy) Barczewski; and son John Caleb.

Her family knows she will receive a wonderful welcome in her new heavenly residence. No tribute to her would be complete without an invitation for those reading to come and know the goodness of the Lord.

Colossians 1:9-14

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to offset the costs of services:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/deborah-s-fuson-celebration-of-life-services?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

A memorial service will be held at Evangelical Free Church, 3000 E. Main Street, Cañon City, Colorado, 81212, October 17 at 2-4 p.m.

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