Deb Dawley, 59

Deb K. Dawley, 59, of Sioux Falls, passed away Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Private services were held.
Deborah Kay Dawley was born Sept. 22, 1958 in Salina, Kan., to Darryl and Harriett “Kay” (Leach) Dawley. She grew up and lived in and around the Sioux Falls area for her entire life, except for living in Yankton, S.D., for a year with her best friend, Mark Hopper.
Deb attended Brandon, Valley Springs and Lyons grade schools. While not in school, she could be found taking care of and riding her beloved farm horse, “Poncho”. In 1970, the family moved into Sioux Falls, where she attended Whittier Junior High School. During this time, she was active in band, playing the drums. Deb also showed her horse “Top Charm” in POA horse shows and was crowned SDPOA Queen in 1973. She also became quite a seamstress, making clothes for herself and friends. Deb attended Washington High School and was active in marching band, Warriorettes Drill Team, track and tailoring. She also served as secretary for her bowling team at the Sport Bowl. Deb went on to attend South Dakota State University. She participated in Little International and placed in the showmanship class. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in May of 1980.
Deb began her career with the City of Sioux Falls at the Great Plains Zoo on Aug. 4, 1980. While at the zoo, her favorite job was raising the African lion cubs from birth and taking the Zoomobile to area schools for hands-on educational purposes. She transferred to the forestry division of the Sioux Falls Park Department in the fall of 1985 and then to McKennan Park. Her seven most enjoyable years were spent tending to the flower gardens in the park. Deb took a lot of pride in her work there and it showed. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed horseback riding with her friends, Ed and Linda Powderly and the three horses they trained together, “Fantasia”, “Cocoa” and “Bobby Socks” on the Powderly acreage outside of Brandon. She also enjoyed gardening, bicycle riding and swimming. Deb retired from the Parks Department in July of 2007. In retirement, she worked as a cashier, customer service representative and in the outside garden shop at Lewis Drug Southeast.
In later years, Deb saw her grandparents’ farm east of Sioux Falls transformed into the Dawley Farm Village, which was a major event in her life. Deb’s other passion was traveling. She went to Australia from Sydney to Cannes for two weeks in 1999, the Breezes Montego Bay resort in Jamaica in 2001, the Sandals Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic in 2006, the Sandals Whitehouse resort in Jamaica in 2009 and the Lido Beach resort in Sarasota, Fla., in 2009. 
She is survived by her best friend, Mark Hopper, Sioux Falls; sister, Diana (Don) and their children, Tasha and Dustin, of Britton; an aunt, Carol (Dan) Everettes, Sioux Falls; uncles, Bill (Donna) Dawley, of Brandon, and Joel (Vickie) Dawley, Sioux Falls; cousins, Todd, Troy, Thad, Trev, Trent, Michelle, Michael as well as the Hainje and Medema cousins; and many friends.
Deb was preceded in death by her parents, Darryl and Harriett; and grandparents, Fred and Freda Dawley and Olive Leach; and an aunt, Delores Dawley. 
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.

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