Deborah Lee (Axelson) Doiel, 62, went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 24th, 2016 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Deborah was born on September 14th, 1953 in Grand Junction, CO to Carl and Dacy Axelson.

Deborah grew up on the western slope of Colorado, riding horses, working in the fruit orchards, and living on Kebler Pass during the summers. One of her first jobs was making coal mine dummies for her grandfather for a penny a piece. She also spent many summers working at Taylor Park, and loved to share the stories about her time there. She graduated from Paonia High School in 1971 and went to Mesa Junior College for her associate's degree before graduating in 1975 from Intermountain Bible College with her bachelor's degree in Sacred Literature. She met the love of her life, Gary Doiel, in 1973 and they were married November 22, 1975 in Paonia, CO. They made their home in Grand Junction, CO until career changes moved them to Fort Morgan, CO in the fall of 1989.

Deborah worked at the Grand Junction Police Department, then at Centennial Mental Health in Sterling, CO, and as the Executive Director of United Way of Morgan County before beginning her career as a mediator, building her own very successful business. Deborah was an extremely talented and a well sought after mediator for roughly twenty years.

She had many passions in life, and her family always came first. She loved to travel with them and spend time exploring new places as well as visiting significant places of the past where she enjoyed reminiscing and sharing memories. She, Gary, her sister Kris, and brother-in-law Wayne enjoyed going on long-weekend adventures whether to balloon festivals, the Rose Bowl Parade, or her beloved mountains. She loved camping, sight-seeing, learning, reading, teaching, church, spending time with God, and looking for new crafts/projects to do with her family in their "spare time". She was a natural born leader and comforter and was always there for anyone who needed her. Deborah was also an avid singer, and was a part of many singing groups throughout college and was always booked for her friends' weddings. She continued to sing as part of her ministry and no matter how many times you had heard her sing, when she got up and began, there was a wave of emotions that came over you as she expressed her love for God through her music.

Deborah was an active member of The Sanctuary Church in Fort Morgan, CO for over 27 years. She cherished her church family and the relationships she built with them. The church was a huge part of her life even until the end, and words will never be able to express the gratitude from the family.

Deborah leaves behind her loving and devoted husband, Gary, her three beloved and adoring children, Michelle (Ft. Morgan), Lindsey (Alamosa) and Landon and daughter-in-law, Becca (Ft. Morgan), and her three granddaughters who were the light of her life, Alexandria, Audrianna, and Brooklyn, her loving sister Kris and brother-in- law Wayne Franz (Grand Junction), her mother-in-law, Betty Doiel (Perryton, TX), numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Dacy Axelson.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The Sanctuary, 14587 U.S. Highway 34, Ft. Morgan, CO or to the Dineh Christian Center, PO 3355, Shiprock, NM 87420.

At Deborah's request, she asked that there be no service. Instead, she gave the following three instructions: 1) If you don't have a relationship with God, find one. 2) If you have relationships that need amends, make the first step. 3) take the time you would have to come to her funeral and spend it with your family; you never know how much time you have with them.