Deborah L. Kirk

Apr 4, 1950 -

Dec 22, 2025

Debby Kirk, born Deborah Vohs, she preferred to be known as "Debby with a Y," age 75, passed away peacefully on Dec. 22, 2025, at home in Palmer, Alaska. She was born on April 4, 1950, in Deer River, Minn., to Barney and Betty Vohs. At the age of 5, she moved with her family to Gresham, Ore., where she grew up with her older siblings, David and Judy, and attended public schools, graduating from Gresham High School in 1968.

It was in Gresham that she fell in love with Leonard Kirk, and they were married on March 21, 1970, soon after he graduated from Oregon's Portland State University. Their first child Benjamin arrived on April 13, 1972, at Woodland Park Hospital in Portland.

It was in 1973 that the young family set off on their Alaska adventure, arriving in Kotzebue late that year. As Debby cared for little Ben, Leonard started his aviation career, first with Baker Aviation and later with Maxon Aviation and Wien Air Alaska. Debby and Leonard welcomed their daughter Kiana on April 8, 1975. Debby was busy raising two young children, but she soon began providing childcare for the families of doctors working at Kotzebue's Indian Health Service hospital and the families of teachers at Kotzebue's schools. It was the beginning of Debby's long career helping and caring for young people.

In 1979, Debby, Leonard and their young family moved to Anchorage, where Debby pursued her passion for helping families and young people while Leonard continued his aviation career. Debby soon became a licensed childcare provider, operating her own childcare center. And she cared for other children, spending many hours volunteering at the Providence Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition, she helped to start the Family Daycare Association to encourage licensing daycare homes and aiming to improve childcare quality.

In 2011, when Debby's aging father Barney needed their help, Debby and Leonard moved back to Gresham to care for him. But when Barney passed away in 2019, they returned to their beloved Alaska, settling this time in Palmer. Happy to be back in Alaska, they joyfully reconnected with old friends.

Palmer is known for wind, and when the wind howled and the power was out, Debby and Leonard enjoyed sitting in front of their fireplace, staying warm and sharing memories of childhood and the life they spent together, raising their family and helping others. Although Debby had ventured as far as Panama and Fiji, her favorite travel memories were in Alaska, especially camping with Leonard, Ben, Kiana and "wonder dog" Albert. Although she dealt with chronic medical issues, Debby always enjoyed friends' visits, bingo at the Palmer Senior Center, playing the "Hand and Foot" card game and working on the jigsaw puzzles that often covered her dining table. She was a caring person who adored Leonard, her children and her grandchildren.

Debby was predeceased by her daughter, Kiana, and survived by her loving husband, Leonard; son, Benjamin; daughter-in-law, Vivian; granddaughters, Savannah and Katie; and grandson, Andy, all living in Alaska. She is also survived by her brother, David of Oregon; and sister, Judy of Colorado.

Those who wish to honor Debby can donate to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Providence Hospital, 3200 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508; or to the Sarcoidosis Research Institute, 320 West Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60654.