Debra Lee Stayman

Debra “Debbie” Lee Pogreba Frelin Stayman, born on January 1, 1957, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the age of 69. Her final four years were spent completely immobile while enduring recurrent infections that progressively worsened. After spending most of this past Christmas season in another one of her many hospital stays, she was fortunate to have a brief return to her nursing facility, just in time to celebrate her birthday with many familiar faces. Saturday, January 17, marked the day when she was transported, alongside family, from the hospital ICU to a comfort care room where she could be free from any further pain.

She passed with a very special birthday gift from her mother on her bed. It was a remarkably lifelike stuffed dog that resembled a blond cocker spaniel named Sammy, a treasured companion that she and her cherished late husband, David Stayman, had shared together. David was her second husband and the love of her life. She missed him deeply, and she longed to be with him. She and David took many trips together. At home, he was a devoted husband who took care of her and the house. Both her biological and adoptive fathers preceded her in death; however, she prematurely preceded her mother, Irene Frelin. She had no children. Additional survivors are her sister, Julie Russell; her sister’s husband, Tom Russell; and her nephew, Dale Kanikkeberg.

Debbie had a powerful personality. She could be frank, feisty, and tough. Deep within her tough exterior, there was a good heart that she did not flaunt. She often questioned the good in her life and was unaware of any good she brought others. Debbie made her wishes, wants, and opinions known. If you were her friend, you’d know it.

Debbie graduated from Rogers High School in Puyallup, Washington and remained domiciled in the Puyallup/Tacoma area for her lifetime. She worked for decades in the photo industry. Her primary craft was working as a photo retoucher, although she did many tasks that involved the processing and production of professional studio-quality photos. For a short time, she trained and worked as a communications dispatcher in the commercial trucking industry, as she was infatuated with the truckers’ lifestyle. As a volunteer, she called Bingo at the Puyallup Elks and the Tacoma Lighthouse Senior Center.

Debbie loved to travel in her truck and trailer, taking her dog and cat (yes, the cat too) along on road trips while she sang with various kinds of music she played on her stereo. She enjoyed sitting up high in her pick-up truck so she could tower over the other vehicles on the highway. She spoke the truck drivers’ language and had empathy for her fellow drivers on the road. She was very sympathetic for anyone she felt was a victim of injustice.

Debbie was terribly intuitive, and she was absolutely fascinated with any supernatural phenomena. She loved history and the Native American culture. She held on strongly to her heritage, and she had a close relationship with her beloved native cousins. Anyone who met or knew Debbie would always remember her. She made quite the impression.