Obituary of Deborah L. Ayers

Searsport, Maine - Deborah Lee Ayers passed away at home in her sleep on Wednesday, June 18th, after a long battle with a variety of medical complications.

Deborah was born in New York on July 28, 1961. She described herself as the ultimate thrill-seeker, riding fast motorcycles, flying in helicopters and going skydiving several times.

Deborah served twenty years in the United States Army, beginning her career at Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training and Fort Sam Houston, TX where she specialized in physical therapy care, burns and casting. She spent time at Fort Sill, OK, Fort Drum, NY and West Point, NY, being assigned to MEDDAC units. She also did two tours in Korea for a total of three years. Deborah was very proud of her time in the Army and retired as Sgt. 1st Class.

Education was also very important to Deborah. She always encouraged the soldiers under her command to attend college and earn a degree. Deborah earned her Associates degree in Human Services while attending Colby College and her Bachelors Degree in psychology from Mount St. Mary’s College in New York. She began taking classes at Thomas College working on an advanced degree, but sadly never completed her Master’s Degree.

After her retirement from the Army, Deborah worked at a nursing home in Pittsfield, was a traveling nurse in the Waterville and Augusta areas, and spent time working at the Togus VA in Augusta, before becoming disabled.

Volunteering and being an active member of the community was also important to Deborah. She participated in the Belfast Meals on Wheels program and spent many years volunteering in the RSU 71 schools of East Belfast, Captain Albert Stevens and Ames, teaching art and science projects in the second-grade classroom, helping out in the resource room and Nexus behavioral room, as well as creating beautiful bulletin boards for the schools.

Deborah especially loved the students and staff at the East Belfast School, helping to fund special events like purchasing T-shirts for all of the students at the end of the school year, helping fifth graders attend Tanglewood for team building experiences, sending the whole school to the Colonial Theater to see The Grinch movie at Christmas, and most recently purchasing an outdoor kitchen for the students to enjoy. She was saddened when Covid struck and due to her complicated health conditions, she was no longer able to be around the students.

Deborah is survived by her granddaughter, Jyllian Grasso of FL; her great-grandson, Bjorn of FL, her beloved cat, Ella and many devoted friends.

Deborah was a bright, shining star! Her kindness, generosity and sense of humor will always be remembered by those of us who knew and loved her.

At her request, there will be no service.