Debbie Jo Reynolds

Debbie Jo Reynolds

11/28/1951 – 12/20/2021

70 years old

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and cherished friend passed peacefully in her Washington, Utah home.

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, the eldest child of Jim and Carma Secrist, Debbie lived a rich, fascinating and often painful life devoted to her faith and loyalty to family and friends, and a deep spiritual connection to God.

In her late 20’s Debbie was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that plagued her for most of her adult life. Her physicians at the time gave her only 5 years to live. Not the type to ever give up, by her determination and will alone, Debbie managed to live a full and active life for more than 50 years after her diagnosis. She credited much of her extended survival to the family’s lifelong belief in the power of natural, holistic herb and vitamin therapies that augmented her medical treatment.

Debbie was no stranger to hard work. She was entrepreneurial and possessed both talent and self-acquired skill with a knack for accomplishing anything she put her mind to. She was close to her mother almost all of her life, and in the 1980’s, started a successful popcorn business that helped Debbie to fulfill her true passion, fishing. The inseparable pair fished virtually every river and stream in southeast Idaho, spending time at the family cabin near the Tetons in between expeditions. They eventually bought a beautiful boat together that they used to out-fish their frustrated husbands and friends. They even began writing a book, recounting their many fishing adventures.

Debbie’s ongoing health struggles eventually led to the loss of her leg in 2006, something she overcame, learning to walk and function normally with a prosthetic for the 15 years that followed. Despite silently enduring excruciating pain day and night, she never shirked her responsibilities to her home and family.

She was married 4 times in her life, the first at age 18, and the longest to David Tucker, with whom she gave birth to two wonderful children, Shawn and Shelby, who blessed her with grandchildren whom she loved and adored to her last breath. She elected to keep her surname from her last short marriage to Jay Reynolds so people would often ask Debbie if she was, or was related to, her famous namesake.

Tragedy struck when she lost her son, Shawn, 2 years ago at age 42 to a seizure from which he would not recover. Given her health challenges, the idea of outliving any of her offspring was a concept she could never fully grasp. From that event on, Debbie’s health began to deteriorate until her recent passing.

A devoted animal lover, Debbie was able to chronicle her life by the dogs she cared for and loved as if they were her own children. Nearing the end of her life, Debbie wished for just two things… to die peacefully in her sleep, at home, rather than from a painful, protracted illness or alone in a hospital bed. And because of her love for Finn, her last sweet dog and companion of 14 years, she often spoke of a hope that God would take her around the time of Finn’s eventual demise. Both of her wishes were granted less than 2 weeks after the loss of her beloved Finn.

Debbie is survived by her daughter, Shelby Smith, Son-in-law Golden Smith and 8 grandchildren: Ryker, Devynee, Jace, Brynlee, Jezree and Emeree Smith, as well as Daughter-in-law Lisa Woodruff and grandsons Jack and Roman Tucker. Siblings include younger brothers Kery Secrist, Kym Secrist, Randall Allen and Jared Allen, and younger sisters Michelle Miller and Jamie Lozier.

We will all miss her greatly.

God bless you Debbie. Your pain is finally gone.