Debi L. Halls

Debra (Debi) Laurel Halls passed away Friday, January 13, 2012 in Denver following a long illness. Debi died of complications of Leukemia and its treatment. She was 57. Debi was born in Cortez January 27, 1954 and attended school Mancos and Kemper elementary in Cortez. Her family moved to Arizona and settled in Ganado, where they ran the cafe attached to the Ganado Trading Post. After high school and training as a a hairdresser in Albuquerque, She returned to Ganado to help run the family cafe. It was there she met her husband, Conrad (Coke) Halls who ran the trading post. Coke and Debi married in Mancos in July of 1973. They relocated to Palisade in 1976 and for 17 years Debi worked as a hat shaper for Grand Junction Western Wear. Her skills were in high demand, and customers from several states sought out her natural gift; insisting that "little Debi" shape their hats. Debi and Coke returned to Mancos in 1997 and she became a fixture at the Absolute Bakery, working for all three consecutive proprietors and charming everyone who met her. Her absence will be keenly felt. Debi was preceeded in death by her mother, Emma Joy Fitzgerald; her father, Charles (Charlie) Edwin Fitzgerald; her brothers Mike and Denny; her neice Amber Bell Fitzgerald; and her aunt and uncle, Pauline and Lester Goff. Surviving Debi are her loving husband, Conrad (Coke) Halls of Mancos; niece Kami Jo Fitzgerald of Cortez; her children Connie Halls of El Paso, Texas and Shawn Halls of Sarasota, Florida; sister-in-laws Melody Fitzgerald of Albuquerque and Nikki Castor of Cortez; Uncle Wayne Smouse; and cousin David Smouse both of Albuquerque; Cousin Gary and Amy Smouse of Cortez. She also has numerous nieces and nephews in the Belen, New Mexico area. "Ricky" the Congo African Gray parrot survives Debi as well. At Debi's request cremation has taken place with no service to be held.