Our beloved Debby Walker passed peacefully from our hands into God’s hands on April 25, 2026. She was home, surrounded by her loving family and loyal dog, where she squeezed into our hands all the remaining love she could.

Debby lived a life rooted in faith and family. A trusting devotion to God shaped everything about her. As a result, she lavished her family with affection and generosity, and she faithfully committed herself to those she cared about. She was both practical and extravagant. Practical in her minimal desire for worldly possessions or the praise of people, extravagant in spending her time and money on what really mattered, those she loved.

Debby was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 3, 1938, to John and Sarah Duncan. She was the oldest of three. Her sister, Bonnie Duncan, who preceded Debby in death, and her brother, John Duncan, were always a close and significant part of her life. Debby attended Southwest High School, where she met the love of her life, John Walker. The two of them were given the title “best couple” in their senior yearbook. After graduation, Debby attended DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, where she pledged Pi Beta Phi sorority. Halfway through her junior year she transferred to the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, in order to be close to her high school sweetheart. She graduated with a BS in mathematics and a minor in Spanish.

John and Debby were married on June 18, 1960, and were about to celebrate 66 years of a rich and full life of adventure together. The marriage they built has been a powerful example to many of the beauty and impact of a Christ centered life. Their union brought forth two beloved daughters, Lisa Miller, married to Bob Miller, and Rebecca Cacy, married to Kevin Cacy; four beautiful grandchildren who were Debby’s pride and joy: Kimberly Miller, Nicholas Cacy, Sarah Smith, and Amanda Erisman; and four precious great grandchildren in whom she delighted (as long as they refrained from throwing toys at her).

Although Debby was deeply devoted to her biological family, her love and generosity extended well beyond. She and John welcomed many into their family as children and grandchildren. Their front door was always open to kids from the neighborhood and others from all walks of life. Debby and John hosted multiple foreign exchange students from all over the world who would become “adopted” sons and daughters: Bianca (Italy), Melissa (Australia), Ari (Iceland), Sherlan (St. Lucia), Heimo (Austria), Themba (South Africa), and Chrain (Hong Kong). Debby loved hosting these students and they became lifelong family. So special were these relationships that over the years many trips were made back and forth, especially to Italy and Austria. Such was the home she and John created together: a place of warmth and inclusion where all who entered were wrapped tight, loved deep, and became part of the family.

Debby was one who most definitely cared more about the needs of others than she did for herself. She lived a life of serving and giving and hospitality, as seen by the way she filled her time. She poured herself into the lives of others, volunteering in the city with Grace’s Kitchen, distributing commodities at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, tutoring

students at Freedom Fire Ministries, caring for individuals who needed a friend and advocate, serving as a para educator for blind students, transcribing books into braille for the Library for the Blind, and serving on the board of the Kansas Association for the Blind. She also loved her church deeply and served faithfully at St. Andrews Episcopal Church as secretary, on the Vestry as Junior Warden, and as a member of the Altar Guild, the Outreach Committee, and Stephen Ministry. More recently, she was a barista at HJ’s, along with John and their dear dog Gracie, serving the homeless and others from the neighborhood who came for a cup of coffee, a laugh, and a kind word.

Debby was known for being deeply content. She was genuinely happy with her life and full of gratitude. She was someone who delighted in the simple things. She loved her neighbors, a good book, creating some kind of needle work for her grandchildren, the moon… oh how she loved the moon, people around the dinner table, a good deck of cards, anytime John picked up after himself, seeing someone familiar, meeting someone new, a good Royals baseball game, and everything Gracie. Of all the simple delights of her life, though, one would be most precious to the very end: holding the hand of her high school sweetheart.

Thank you, God, for the faithful life of Debby Duncan Walker. We are grateful for all she has been and all she has given to all who have known her. Her presence and warmth will be held in our hearts.

Friends and loved ones are invited to gather in remembrance of Debby’s life on Friday, May 22, at 10:00 am at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. Reception following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the following organizations:

i58kc Ministries, online at i58kc.org

His House Foundation online at hishousefound.org

St. Andrew’s Ministry Growth Fund at standrewkc.org