Deborah Taber

Deborah Smith Taber of Denver, Colorado passed away on March 2, 2022 after a stroke. She was surrounded by family during her final hours.

Debbie was born August 23, 1951 to Paul Smith & Doris Williams in Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, spending many summers with cousins, aunts, and uncles. She attended Florida State University and then the University of Georgia where she studied English and journalism.

It was in Athens that she met the love of her life, Alan T. Taber, who was studying at the US Navy Supply Corps School. Debbie and Alan were married in Athens on July 2, 1971. They built a life together, traveling the world and blooming wherever they were planted, making connections through Alan’s various Navy assignments, their time as Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream franchise owners, and of course, all things Cal (Alan’s alma mater). They raised four sons. Ever focused on family, they established traditions of music, laughter, and faith. In July 1990, they were sealed together as a family for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Debbie and Alan served a Family History Mission in the Thailand Bangkok Mission from 2012-2013. Their service and experiences nurtured and deepened their love for the culture and people of “The Land of Smiles,” and of course family. Debbie was gifted at making others feel welcome and important. She found ways to connect with everyone she met. Knowing well the trials of moving often, she was quick to reach out to others in friendship. She shared the legacies and experiences of her own family history (ancestors, extended family, marriage, motherhood, & grand motherhood) through story telling and photographs, and had recently completed and published a 500+ page volume of family history based on her mother’s ancestry.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 50+ years, Alan T. Taber; her four sons Chris (Anne), Mark (Katie), Andrew, Carson (Sarah); and seven grandchildren Isabelle “Izzy”, Chase, Heather, Miles, Ruby, Holden, and Wesley.

A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 19 at 11am MT at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 740 Hudson Street, Denver, Colorado. For those who cannot attend in person please join us via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92309135374

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support continued Family History work at https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/familysearch

To share memories of Debbie and condolences with her family, please share on the adjoining Tribute wall. Thank you.