- Date Of Birth: June 19, 1937
- Date Of Death: October 22, 2021
- State: Arizona
Deborah Margaret Carmean, 84, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away peacefully in her home on October 22, 2021. Deborah was born on June 19, 1937 in Corning, New York to John and Evelyn Sampson. She was the second oldest of four children and graduated from Lodi High School in New Jersey in 1955. In 1958, she began working as a flight attendant for Braniff International Airways, where she served until her marriage to Clayton (Hank) Carmean on June 9, 1960, at West Point, New York. Deborah served as an “Army wife” with Hank for the 25 years of his Army career, living in Germany and Brazil, as well as different locations in the US, including Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Deborah and Hank were blessed with two daughters, Evalyne, born in 1962 at Stuttgart, West Germany, and Laura, born in 1965 at West Point. Raising her daughters was a top priority for Deborah and she ensured that they both successfully earned college degrees. Deborah was involved in various Army family activities wherever Hank served. She prided herself as an “Army wife” and assisted younger wives to learn to cope with the challenges of life in the military environment. Her favorite hobby was needlepoint, and she created several beautiful pieces for display in her home. After Hank’s retirement from the military, they moved frequently to fulfill Hank’s assignments with his new company, living in Knoxville, Dallas, Boise, San Francisco, and Denver. When she and Hank retired from his second career in 2000, they chose Scottsdale as their retirement site. Deborah is survived by her husband of 61 years, Hank; daughters Evalyne (Gregory) Gonzalez of Alexandria, Virginia, and Laura (Bradford) McKenzie of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren Carlyn (Karl), Stephen (Madeline), Connor, Clayton, and Mary Grace; great grandchildren Gavin, Logan, Charlotte, and Lucy; brother David (Patricia); sister Marcie (Alfred); and several beloved nieces and nephews. Deborah is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John, Jr. Deborah was much loved by her entire family and closely followed all their activities, even though she was hampered in the last few years by COPD and unable to travel. Deborah will be inurned in a private ceremony at the West Point Cemetery.
If you never say goodbye, you can never say until we say hello again.
