Deborah Jeanette Morales

Deborah Jeanette Morales

On the morning of March 23rd, our beloved Mother peacefully returned home to her Heavenly Father, surrounded by her eternal companion of over 50 years and all five of her children.

Deborah was born on April 8, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and Lorraine Butler. She came from a large, close-knit family and shared a special bond with her six sisters and one brother, as well as with her sister in-laws, a bond she carried with her throughout her life.

In 1975, Deborah met the love of her life, Ruben. They were married on July 27, 1977, and together built a beautiful life, raising five children. Their love was constant and unmistakable—a true example of devotion. You rarely saw one without the other. Whether music was playing in the kitchen or they were dancing salsa together, their love filled every room and became the foundation of our family.

Our Mother was the embodiment of love—selfless, nurturing, and endlessly giving. She didn’t just tell us how to love; she showed us every single day. Through her actions, her sacrifices, and her words, she taught us what it means to truly care for one another.

We feel deeply honored and blessed to call her our mother. To know her was to love her. Her warmth, kindness, and infectious laughter brought people together and created lasting connections. She had a beautiful gift for storytelling, filling rooms with joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

She often shared cherished memories of her childhood—stories of her parents, siblings, and her beloved grandmother Louise, whom she adored. She loved reminiscing about her time on the high school drill team and would still perform the cheers she remembered so well, bringing smiles to all of us. More than anything, she treasured her role as a grandmother and the special moments spent with our dad and family.

Though our hearts ache deeply, we find comfort in knowing she is whole again—free from pain—and walking in peace with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She is now reunited with her parents, Michael and Lorraine Butler; grandfather, Eugene DeCosta; grandmother, Louise Davis; grandchild, Michael Spackman; and sister, Lorraine Wilson.

She leaves behind a legacy of devotion and strength in her beloved husband, Ruben Morales; her children: Charise (Jesse), Monique (Sam), Drena (Wesley), Ruben Joshua (Alyssa), Justin (Mylea), her 15 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, her sisters and brother, her many nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of dear friends who will continue to cherish her memory.

To honor and celebrate her beautiful life, we invite all who knew and loved her to join us for a Celebration of Life on Thursday, April 9th, from 1:00–4:00 PM at Washington Heights Church (1770 E 6200 S, Ogden, UT 84405).

For those who wish to send flowers, they may be delivered directly to the celebration location. If you feel prompted to support our family with expenses, donations may be made via Venmo (@Monique-Martinez-52) or Cash App ($mmonique101).