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Debra “Debbie” (Sprague) Newcomer passed away Nov. 9, 2019, after a lengthy illness due to heart failure. She was encircled by loving family members at the time of her passing.
She was born on March 23, 1953, in Worland, arriving minutes before her twin brother, Doug. Debbie was welcomed home by her parents, Leonard and Thelma Sprague, older sisters, Bonnie and Cheryl, and older fraternal twins, Chuck and Charlene, who were thrilled to have another set of twins join the household.
The family moved to Powell in 1958, where Debbie attended schools and participated in many church and school activities. In grade school, she loved to write stories, play the piano and tap dance. Her high school activities included four years attendance in Wyoming’s all-state band, playing the alto clarinet. Additional interests were Future Nurses and the drill and speech teams.
She graduated from Powell High School in 1971 and attended Rick’s College (BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho. She graduated in 1974 with her nursing degree. In May 1975, she married Frederick Newcomer in the Idaho Falls temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Debbie’s family moved several times for jobs, so Debbie worked as a labor/delivery nurse at hospitals in Richland, Washington; Bloomington, Illinois; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Orangeburg, South Carolina. She also worked as a home health nurse and ended her career working as a hospice nurse.
In 2007, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and retired from nursing.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life, Debbie served in Stake and Ward callings in the Primary, Young Women and the Relief Society. She sought out the needy and downtrodden in every location where she lived. She had a strong testimony of her savior and was never shy about sharing it.
In 2016, Debbie and her husband moved to San Tan Valley, Arizona, and lived there until her death. Because of her illness, she couldn’t travel or see many of the beautiful sites that Arizona has to offer.
She was the light of her husband’s life and the lives of her children, grandchildren and everyone with whom she came in contact.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Thelma Griggs Sprague; her in-laws Ed and Wilma Newcomer, formerly of Worland; grandson Hollis Newcomer, and many aunts and uncles and cousins.
Debbie leaves six children to mourn her: Trevor of Lehi, Utah, Sam (Cathy) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Ryan (Elissa) of Lehi, Utah, Randall (Rebecca) of Southern Pines, North Carolina, Lacey Costner (Ryan) of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, and Derrick of Orem, Utah. Debbie is the grandmother of 20 grandchildren and each one was special to her.
Debbie is also survived by her husband, Fred; her twin brother Doug Sprague (Marie) of Canyon Country, California; brother Charles Sprague (Alice) of Mesa, Arizona; sister Charlene Sprague of West Valley, Utah; sister Cheryl Cozzens (Chuck) of Vineyard, Utah; and sister Bonnie Haas of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, Debbie had requested that donations be sent to any hospice group or children’s hospital.
Memorial services will take place on Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 32584 N. Gary, San Tan Valley, Arizona, and on Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. at the church located at 2001 W 1500 N, Lehi, Utah.
