Debbie Richey

Debbie Richey, 48, of Columbia City, passed away at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at her home. Born April 18, 1971 in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Jules Dewayne Richey and Sue Ellen (Egoff) Richey.

She had attended South Side and Elmhurst High School. Debbie worked as a nurse's aid at Lutheran Hospital, waitressed and at Magnavox. In 1990 while working at Magnavox, she met her best friend and companion for the next 28 years, Dennis Smith II. She loved being with her family, listening to music, dancing and doing crosswords.

Survivors include her father, Jules Dewayne Richey, of Columbia City; daughter, Virginia Smith; brothers, Sheldon (Jessica) Richey, of New Haven and Tommy (Tara) Richey, of Fort Wayne; father- and mother-in-law, Dennis and Cheryl Smith; sisters-in-law, Trisha (Tom) Minnick, Trudy Smith and Lynn (Dennis) Ogden; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Sue Ellen Richey.

Funeral services will begin at 1p.m. Friday, August 9, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City with visitation an hour prior. Pastor Steve Johnson, of Oak Grove Church of God will be officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her mom at Eberhard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made toward her final expenses, ICO DeMoney-Grimes. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences online.