Deborah “Deb” Chidsey

Deborah “Deb” Chidsey

Aug. 15, 1941 – May 7, 2021

Deb Chidsey of Powell passed away at Cody Regional Health Spirit Mountain Hospice House on May 7, 2021. 

Deb was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 15, 1941, and lived in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Utah in her youth. She graduated high school in Provo, Utah. 

While her father was teaching forestry classes at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, Deb met Pete Chidsey. Pete was a student in her father’s class, and they married on December 24, 1960, in Yakima, Washington. Three daughters were born of this marriage, Ginny, Allison and Catherine. She bestowed upon them the qualities of compassion, independence and stubbornness (when needed). 

Pete worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and Deb loved being stationed with her family in many beautiful places, including Texas, Arizona, Big Creek and North Fork, California, Ft. Collins, Colorado, Stub Creek Ranger Station during the summers in Colorado, Custer, South Dakota, Douglas, Wyo., and finally Lovell. 

While in Lovell, their three daughters graduated from Lovell High School. Deb never missed a sporting or school event of her three daughters. In July of 1997, Deb and Pete moved to Powell. Pete passed away in 2014. After his death, a picture of Deb was found in his wallet that she had given him 54 years earlier when they began dating. 

Throughout Deb’s lifetime she enjoyed knitting, cross stitch, sewing, bowling, playing bridge at the North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center in Lovell, patronizing garage sales with her friends and caring for her border collie companions Ebony and Sadie. 

Deb was an active member of Powell’s St. John’s Episcopal Church. She contributed to the community by volunteering for Meals on Wheels for the North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center of Lovell and at St. John’s Thrift Shop in Powell. Once Pete had passed, she prided herself on being able to take care of her large lawn and house without help.

Deb is survived by her daughter Ginny (Cliff Smith) Chidsey of Cheyenne, Allison (Woody) Evans of Cody and Catherine (Paul) Willard of Manson, Washington. Deb was blessed with four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include James Evans of Aloha, Oregon, Tawnya Evans Wagner of Las Cruses, New Mexico, and Eli and Cavan Willard of Manson. Also surviving is her sister Melissa Taylor of Sierra Vista, Arizona; sister-in-law Ellan “Penny” Hays of Sugarland, Texas; and three nieces, Holly McPherson, Heather Boyett and Kimberly Camp. 

Deb was preceded in passing by her parents Raymond and Marvel Taylor of Monterey, California, and her husband, Pete Chidsey.

Cremation has taken place with Thompson Funeral Home of Powell. A memorial service will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 24, at 10 a.m. with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell next to her husband, Pete, followed by a reception at the Washington Park Shelter.

Services will be streamed for those who can’t attend at https://youtu.be/if6CUo86fwA. In lieu of flowers, her family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made in her name to Cody Regional Health Spirit Mountain Hospice House, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Powell Animal Shelter, North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center of Lovell, Powell Senior Citizens Center or a charity of one’s choice.

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