Deborah Sue Arness

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  Deborah Sue Arness

Deborah Sue Arness

Soldotna resident Deborah Sue Arness died Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. She was 54.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. A celebration of life will be announced at the service.

Ms. Arness was born July 8, 1950, in Woodward, Okla., to Ray and Mary (Simmons) Olds. She was educated at Canoga Park and Fillmore elementary schools in California and Kenai Central High School. She moved to Alaska in 1965, living in both Kenai and Soldotna.

She enjoyed decorating, collecting antiques and growing beautiful plants, and she had a very special interest in her children, whom she adored.

"Our mother was the sweetest, most beautiful, precious person in the world. She was so kind, so giving. She was always there with open arms, ears to listen and words of comfort. Her family, and especially her children, were her life and we were so honored that we got to have her in our lives for the short time that she was here. She filled our hearts with such joy. There is a big hole in the hearts of everyone who loved her. She had been anxiously awaiting the birth of her first grandson, Hunter Steven Peck, who will know her through her children. When you look into Debi's beautiful eyes you instantly could feel her pure love she felt for you," her family said.

Ms. Arness was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Olds; sister, Ray Cheryl Espinoza; paternal grandparents, Ray Sr. and Ruby Olds; maternal grandparents, Earl and Edna Simmons; nephew, Kevin Faulkner; nieces, Lisa and Lori Espinoza; and great-nieces, Mariah and JayLynn Espinoza and Cherylynn Shaffer.

Survivors include sons, Art Arness of Soldotna and Jesse Peck of Boise, Idaho; daughter, Andrea Peck of Boise; grandson, Hunter Peck of Boise; father, Ray Olds of Kenai; brother, Steve Olds of Kenai; sister, Kay Faulkner of Kenai; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Fox; nephews, David Faulkner of Kent, Wash., Jason Espinoza of Soldotna, Mike Shaffer of Kenai and Troy Gruver of Palmer; nieces, Leah Gruver of Palmer, Vicki Espinoza of Anchorage, and Teresa Espinoza of Kenai; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and great-nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be sent to the family c/o Ray Olds, P.O. Box 225, Kenai, AK 99611.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.