Deborah Monthei, 1948 – 2019

In honor of Deborah Monthei, her family is hosting a reception and time of visitation for family and friends on Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 2 to 5 pm at the Jefferson Community Golf Course, 501 West Greenewood Road, Jefferson.

Deborah (Debbie) Darlene Masters Monthei left this world to live on in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as of March 29, 2019. She was born March 30, 1948, to Robert and Serena Masters in Kendallville, IN.

After graduating from high school in Kendallville, she served her country by joining the United States Air Force. She served at various Air Force bases in the United States, with a tour of duty at Clark Air Base, Philippines. While going to school as an administrative specialist at Amarillo Air Force Base, TX, she met her husband, Kenny L. Monthei, who also was in the Air Force at the same school. They were wonderfully married for 49 years, 11 months. To this union were born four children.

During Debbie’s working years outside the home, she spent six years at Genesis Development and nineteen years at Fareway Grocery Stores in Jefferson. She enjoyed her work at each employment, especially working with her co-workers and the many acquaintances she made.

Her greatest joy was being with her family and living the example of a Christ-like woman. Many hours were spent around the kitchen table singing and enjoying the closeness of her family. It was not unusual to walk in the house at any time to hear Debbie singing and playing the piano. She was too shy to play for the public, but she played beautifully. Debbie and her husband were often asked to sing at weddings, funerals, and various activities throughout the community. Debbie had a genuine love for singing and expressing her love and joy for the Lord in this way.

Debbie could never get enough of spending time with her family in whatever form that might be, and was always willing to display her many comedic attributes. She never wavered when someone needed a shoulder.

She will be greatly missed and forever remembered by her husband Kenny; daughter Gina (Shilow) Ashby; son Shane (Debbie) Monthei; daughter Tricia Monthei; and son Joshua (Kelly) Monthei; grandchildren Skyler, Meadow, Alec (Amy), Ashley, Jacob, Joslyn, Gabriella, Lauren, Ali, Jon, Bailey, Chance, Destiny, Mikaela, Mikenzi (Cole), Mitchell (Kenna), Josiah, Kloey, Baylee, and Aiden. To Debbie’s continued pleasure are three great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert J. (Marcia) Masters II of Fort Scott, KS; other relatives and many, many friends who have known and loved.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson assisted the family.

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