Deborah (Debbie) Maye Hall DeWitt, 74, died January 28, 2026 after a long battle with cancer and a short illness in Spokane, WA.

Debbie was born on October 13, 1951, in Panama City, FL, the only daughter and third child of Sarah Jane (Cagnon) and William Troy Hall, Jr. She spent the first 20 years of her life in Panama City and the Florida panhandle surrounded and loved by her parents, older brothers, and extended family. Growing up she learned all the best parts of being a southern girl from her mother and grandmothers, but the best lessons of all were cooking her favorite family dishes including seafood gumbo, greens, peas and okra, and cornbread. When Debbie was a young girl, her family moved into a newly built home on Foster Ave. near the St. Andrew neighborhood.

Debbie graduated from Bay High School in 1969, then she attended Gulf Coast Junior College. In early 1970, she met the love of her life, Dirck DeWitt (known as "Red") through a mutual friend. The two were married in September and welcomed their first child, Dirck Jr., the following year. A daughter, Halo, joined the family in 1972.

When Dirck was discharged from the Coast Guard in 1972, the young family moved almost as far from warm, sunny Florida as a girl could imagine: Moscow, Idaho. This was only a temporary stop on the road to bigger things. In Moscow, Debbie worked as a telephone operator while Dirck attended school. With some prerequisites completed, the family moved to Spartanburg, SC, where Debbie worked and Dirck attended Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. The pair immersed themselves in the culture and practice of chiropractic. It wasn't just a vocation for him but an avocation for both of them.

After graduation, the family moved north again, spending time in Moscow, ID and Spokane and Clarkston, WA, looking for the right fit in practice and home. In 1981, the family vehicle broke down on Main Street in Colfax, WA. That mishap opened a world of possibilities and within six months the family had moved to Colfax where Dirck and Debbie opened Colfax Chiropractic Clinic at 116 S. Main St. For several years Dirck (eventually known as "Doc") practiced magic, and Debbie ran the business of the office.

Eventually, Debbie decided to start her own long career as a tax preparer. She took classes and started at H&R Block in Moscow in 1992. Debbie's client list grew rapidly as one of the most prolific tax preparers in the H&R Block family. She loved and took pride in being a trusted adviser to everyone around her. In 2000, she moved from the Moscow office to run the Pullman office. In 2015, she left H&R Block and started her own business, Taxes, Etc., at 116 ½ S. Main in Colfax, right next door to Dirck's practice.

Over the years, Debbie was active in the Colfax and Washington Jaycees, serving as State President in 1989. She was also a member of the Colfax Eagles and the Palouse Muzzleloaders. She was involved in the founding of Sky Magic, lending her financial skills and hard work to shooting fireworks all over Washington and Northern Idaho.

In the middle of raising her family and beyond, Debbie gave as much as she could to making Colfax a better home for everyone. Most of the time, if Dirck was involved, Debbie was, too. She might not be the headliner, but she was there organizing, motivating, advising, and often bookkeeping.

Debbie and Dirck loved to go on long rides and big adventures on their motorcycle. She loved gardening in the hot summer sun, growing roses, flowers, and tomatoes. Debbie was proud, private, and sometimes prickly but always loving and giving. She always gave sound advice but never a piece of her mind (unless you knew her well enough).

When partners and grandkids joined the family, Debbie welcomed everyone and was an enthusiastic grandmother. She loved cooking with her daughter and grandkids, especially holiday feasts and southern favorites. Many happy hours were spent in the generous kitchen Dirck built for her. Debbie also loved her puppies, Yogi and BooBoo beyond measure. They were her constant companions after Dirck's passing in 2017.

Debbie finally retired and closed Taxes, Etc. in 2024, and simultaneously started a tough battle with breast cancer. The last two years have been a testament to the help she gave others as so many people have in turn stepped up to offer her help and support. She was grateful for it, even if she was reluctant to accept it.

Debbie will be missed by her children and their families, Halo, Jeff, Nate, and Willow Golden of Los Alamos, NM, and Dirck Jr., Lisa McCarthy, and Teigan DeWitt of Eastern Washington. She is also survived by her brother, William Troy Hall, III, (Trey) of Panama City, FL; many nieces and nephews all across the country; and her life-long friend Mollie Dailey and her family.

Debbie is preceded in death by her parents, Sara Jane and Troy; by her husband of 47 years, Dirck; by her brother, Thomas Hall; by her grandson, Jesper Golden; and by her beloved puppies, Yogi and BooBoo.

In lieu of sending flowers, please plant some shasta daisies (her favorite flowers), have some good southern cooking, donate to your favorite charity, or get out and spend some time making your community a better place.

A Celebration of Life will be held later in the summer. On-line guest book is at www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com