Deborah Leah Bass, Debbie, passed away on May 15, 2023, at age 72.
Born on August 23, 1951, to Thomas and Alma Bass at Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was the second child, behind a brother Tommy born eight years earlier. They were raised in a military family and moved frequently settling in Kansas City, Kansas where she graduated high school at Wyandotte High School in 1969. She went on to graduate college at the University of Oklahoma.
She went on to work at Hershey Gardens for many years. She was an avid gardener who loved vegetables and flowers, but truly enjoyed transforming her surroundings, landscaping at each home. Creating a getaway where she could read and enjoy the company of her kitties.
She was a kindhearted person, who was devoted to family and friends. Her big heart and caretaker personality led to the foster care and eventually adoption of a daughter, Betsey Lawrence who had Downs Syndrome. She and her husband William (Bill) Monaghan loved Betsey very much.
Debbie was known to her farmers market customers as the “Cheese Lady”, owner of Debbie’s Cheeseboard. She became the 7th cheesemaker in the state of Kansas in 2014 after moving to Leavenworth. She had been a cheese artisan in Pennsylvania previously for many years.
She enjoyed swimming and was a certified diver too. She and Bill owned a dive shop for four years and taught diving lessons. Travelling to Honduras, the Cayman Islands and Bahamas with students was their time to relax and play!
Debbie also loved to entertain with her family and friends. Great food and so many parties, so many bottles of wine 😊!
She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, husband, and daughter.
Surviving family are niece Letha Higgins (spouse: Scott Higgins), great nephew Shawn Higgins (spouse: Elizabeth Higgins), and great, great niece Penelope Higgins.
No services will be held in Kansas. Interment will be at Brownie Cemetery in Peach Orchard, Arkansas. Condolences may be left on the Davis Funeral Chapel website.
