Debora Tiffin

Debora Lee Tiffin, 52, of Mountain Home, died peacefully on Aug. 9, 2008, surrounded by her family, after a long fight against breast cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1917 Third St., Napa, Calif. Arrangements are under the care of Richard Pierce Funeral Service, 1660 Silverado Trail, in Napa.

She was born on Nov. 14, 1955, in Elgin, Ill., to Martha Helen Lowenstein and Benjamin Franklin Morton. She moved from Illinois to the Napa Valley in California as a child. Her parents separated when she was young and her mother later remarried Harvey Robertson, whom Debbie was proud to call "dad," her family noted.

Debbie attended elementary through high school in Napa and graduated from Vintage High in 1975. She was involved in several school organizations, one of them being a "pom pom" girl. "She was always the one planning the next 'sock hop' or 'music review'," her family said.

Debbie married her first husband, Pete Malinowski, in 1976 and they had two children, Cory and Crystal.

She was a homemaker and later worked for Longs Drugs Store for several years. "Although the marriage ended in divorce, they always remained such great friends until his death in 2003," her family said.

"Debbie met and later married Michael Tiffin, "the love of her life," in 1989. They had a son, Michael, that same year.

She moved to Mountain Home, Idaho in 1995 and began working in the kitchen with the school district, along with working as a teacher's assistant to disabled children.

"Debbie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend," her family said. "She will be best remembered and much missed for her infectious laugh.

"She had a true passion for music. She loved singing and dancing, but most of all writing.

"Debbie was always the life of the party, smiling and making others laugh.

"She was always there for her family and friends with an open heart and mind. She will be greatly missed by all the lives she has touched," her family said, adding that " her memory and spirit will live on in each and every person she knew."

She was preceded in death by her father, Benjamin Morton; her mother, Marty Robertson, and her stepfather, Rob Robertson.

She is survived by: her husband, Mike Tiffin; her sons, Cory Malinowski and Michael Tiffin of Napa; her daughter, Crystal Malinowski of Napa; her daughter-in-law, Emily Malinowski of Napa; her stepson, Sean Tiffin of Lake Tahoe, Nev.; her stepdaughter, Jamie Tiffin of Redding, Calif.; two granddaughters; brothers Benny Morton of Australia and Curtis Morton of Hawaii; a sister, Tonya Lange of Montague; her "very special friend since childhood" Deb Brewster, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Debbie has asked that donations be made to Make A Wish Foundation or St. Mary's Episcopal Church located at 1917 Third St., Napa, Calif., 94558.

Family and friends are invited to send condolences on-line at www.rpfsc.com.