Deborah Gretchen Phillips

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Deborah, also known as Debbie, after a courageous battle with cancer on June 5, 2025. She passed in her home surrounded by her Peanuts Gang just as she had wished.

Debbie is preceded in death by her father, Arthur C. Gall; mother,  LaVonne “Von” K. (Phillips) Gall; brother, A. Philip “Biff” Gall.

Debbie is survived by her daughter, Lisa M. Phillips-Smego; son-in-law Michael A. Smego; granddaughter, Breanne “Bree” K. Phillips-Smego; great granddaughters: Ella and Charlie; and cousin, Debbie Zumbahlen from Alliance, NE.

Debbie was born in Le Mars, Iowa on October 28, 1946.  She grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and graduated class of ‘64 from Central High School. She attended the University of Nebraska. She began her love for banking in the 70’s which led her to Bank of America where she worked faithfully for 40 plus years. She held many positions, and took pride in her work. She participated in all of the community services projects, and enjoyed the Idaho Public Television telethon. She had a great love for the Idaho Humane Society where she served on the board and donated countless hours of her time volunteering, fundraising and the creation of the Pet Food Pantry. She enjoyed taking her Peanuts Gang to the annual See Spot Walk event. She was a faithful member of Holy Apostles Catholic Church and the CCW group, where she also participated in fundraising and volunteer opportunities. 

Debbie had a great love for life, and traveling was very important to her. She enjoyed cruising, traveling internationally, and just getting away even for a quick drive. Her most recent trip was to Cabo San Lucas with her friends. She was a loyal, kind and generous friend. She took up residence in Colorado, Arizona and Idaho, where she gained many lifelong friendships. She had many interests including: skiing, hot air ballooning, working towards her pilots license, scrapbooking, whitewater rafting, tending to her flowers, football games, supporting Boise State Broncos, music concerts, and hosting her annual Christmas ornament party, just to name a few.

Debbie had a great love for animals, specifically dogs. Debbie has had a pet companion for most her life, majority were rescues. Before her peanuts gang she had: Happy, Gertrude, and Rascals. Shortly after her move to Idaho she began her Peanuts Gang. It began with Lucy and Charlie Brown, then Schroeder came along, and he had a piece of her heart, then Peppermint Patty, Linus, Snoopy, Peanut, Franklin and Schatzi. She gave them the most wonderful life, enjoyed many outings, and events, Lucy and Patty took her along to read to children at the Library. It is safe to say they were her greatest Legacy. 

Please join us in a service on June 17th at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, 6300 N Meridian Rd. Meridian, ID 83646 at 9:30am for a public viewing, 10:00am for Rosary Prayer Service, 11:00am for Mass with Reception to follow in the Holy Apostles Dining Room.