Deborah S. Jerome

Deborah Sue Jerome, 69, of Prescott, AZ, passed away August 31, 2023, in Prescott following a short illness. She was born July 16, 1954, in Pico Rivera, CA, to Jack and Delphine Jerome. Deborah graduated from El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, served the U.S. Air Force in Turkey and Japan, and throughout her life supported and participated in veterans’ activities and events.

Following her service, Deborah attended junior college in Florida, married and moved to Tucson where she became the mother of two boys and made several close friends, and moved to Prescott Valley in the late 1980’s. Here she devoted more than 15 years to building the Prescott Valley Recreation Department by working on and supervising numerous events, adult sports leagues and tournaments, summer day camp, Mountain Valley Splash, and Battle of the Bands, to name a few. Deborah also helped organize Prescott Valley’s Little League and Punt, Pass & Kick programs, played area adult sports, and was an AIA high school volleyball referee. Deborah’s commitment to and active support of her community was recognized with an annual “Community Booster” award from the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce, and she spent many Christmas Day nights welcoming guests to the Chamber’s Valley of Lights display.

Deborah was also known as “Ms. Spedding”, a teacher’s aide at Mountain Valley Elementary School in Prescott Valley during the mid-1990’s, was a strong supporter of her sons’ sports activities at Bradshaw Mountain High School and made a life-long impact on her Little Sister.

Following a move to Prescott in 2013, Deborah worked until her death as a field and gym supervisor for Prescott Parks & Recreation for adult softball, volleyball, and basketball leagues and tournaments, was a devoted assistant to the department’s Special Needs Activity Program, a loyal volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and participated in senior exercise class through the Adult Center.

Deborah loved her sons and granddaughters, the Prescott area, nature, her pug dogs and tortoises, the Chicago Cubs, Elvis, and the beach. She was a unique individual who touched many lives and now leaves many good friends and great memories.

Deborah was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Michael Jerome. Survivors include her son, Justin W.; son, Clayton Spedding, wife and two daughters of Florida; brother, Jeff Jerome and family of Pico Rivera, CA; and sister, Lisa Vargas of southern California.

A celebration and remembrance of Deborah’s life for family and friends will be scheduled and announced through Facebook.