Deborah Warner

Deborah Warner was born Deborah Acevedo in Denver, Colorado to her parents Julie L. Vigil and Floyd Acevedo Jr. It was the beginning of Deborah’s lifelong love of animals, big and small. As a small girl she loved her dog Kibble and was fascinated by horses. If it was furry, winged or scaled, she loved it. She never lost her love for animals and, throughout her adult life, collected dogs, cats, cows and everything in between with a joy and eager love that shone through her care of them.

As a child Deborah was a beautiful tomboy. She would climb any tree, ran faster than most the boys in the neighborhood, and rode her bicycle like a downhill champion. Deborah was always up for a challenge and grew up boating and camping with her mom and dad, her baby sister, and a slew of assorted cousins, aunts, uncles, and an extensive list of friends and family. She loved camping in the mountains or on the beach and could always be found roasting s’mores at the nightly campfire, if she wasn’t hunting bull-frogs with her cousins, and her beloved Golden Retriever. As Deborah grew, she had a vivacious and adventurous nature that quickly turned into a passion for scuba diving, fishing, archery, wake boarding in the summer at Lake McConaughey, and snowboarding in the winter, wherever the base was best. Deborah was always up for a challenge and played a mean game of battle tube. She was usually the one flipping opponents off the tube, rather than the one getting flipped. On a trip to Lake McConaughey in her early teens, a photographer saw her and her friend wakeboarding and asked if he could ride along and take pictures of them to feature in the local vacation guide. The images taken that day were featured in the vacation guide and captured a spunky, beautiful young girl from Colorado riding the wake like a pro and catching big air that would make most anyone jealous.

Deborah Graduated from Skyview High School in June 2004 and started art school the following year. But Deborah was never one to sit still. She was soon on a new adventure and had her first child, Shan Ray Warner, Jr. with her high school sweetheart, Shan Warner. They soon added a second baby to their young family, William Wedell Warner, and, shortly after, Deborah and Shan were married, surrounded by their family and friends. True to her nature, she acquired a Rottweiler puppy and named him Dozer. Dozer was always by her side and went everywhere with her. You’d usually find him riding shot-gun, guarding her and her truck as she ferried her children to school or the park, and his gentle gaze followed her, as did he, throughout her day.

Deborah was a wonderful mother to her boys and she and Shan settled in North Denver. While raising her family, Deborah continued to work on her art, and she could often be found drawing and designing many of her own tattoos. Deborah’s artwork was always in high demand and is cherished by all who were lucky enough to get one of her pieces. The couple split, but forged a strong friendship built on the love for their boys.

While attending Westwood College in 2015 to become a certified mechanic, she met her fiancé, Steven Orona. They fell in love and could be found laughing and giggling cutting up and creating fun wherever they went. They welcomed their beautiful son Aiden Orona, in 2016 and settled in Mead, Colorado. Shortly after, they gained full custody of Steven’s daughter, Aaliyah Hewitt, and Deborah claimed her as her own with a fierce love and devotion matched only by her determination to be the mother Aaliyah never had. Deborah loved Steven’s children, Peightyn Pierce and Colton Pierce, as completely as she loved her own, and they seamlessly blended their children into one, big, happy family. They added several dogs to the mix, and you could find their six beautiful children playing outside and being watched over by Dozer, Akila, and Grim, with Deborah standing watch over her brood. In 2017, the family relocated to Rye, Colorado, and began a life of ranching, well suited to Deborah’s love for animals. Deborah could be found feeding baby cows from a bottle, taking care of chickens, collecting eggs, and, of course, riding horses. She naturally, added more dogs to her pack, Rooster and Blue, and took in a stray cat as well.

Deborah leaves behind Steven Orona, her fiancé, and her children, Shan Ray Warner Jr., William Wedell Warner, Aaliyah Hewitt, Aiden Orona, Colton Pierce, and Peightyn Pierce. Deborah is also survived by her mother, Julie Vigil; her father Floyd Acevedo jr.; her older sister, Christina Cost, (Matt Jones) and her younger sister, Pauline Zamora (Adam Meis).  She was predeceased by her grandfather, Frank A. Vigil; her grandmother, Pauline A. Vigil; her grandfather, Floyd Acevedo; and her beloved brother-in-law, William L. Cost.

Deborah was cherished by everyone who knew her. She was full of life, love and kindness and will be remembered for her ever-present smile, her infectious giggle, and her beautiful love for her children.

Catholic services will be held in Deborah's honor beginning on Thursday, September 2, 2021 with the Recitation of the Rosary at 6:30PM at the Horan & McConaty Chapel in Thornton, CO. Then, on Friday, September 3, 2021 a Funeral Mass will be at 11:00AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Thornton, CO.

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