My younger sister, Debra Lynn Smith, daughter of Orville “Ozzie” and JoAnn Smith of Fortuna, was born March 30, 1954, at the company-owned hospital in Scotia. She passed away August 21, 2026, after a long battle with MS.

Debi and I were four years apart in age. We were raised by two of the greatest and hardest-working parents, who ran a household, farm, and their restaurant, Bob’s Footlongs. We had a wonderful life and a close family.

Debi lived various lifestyles in her younger years, which were all filled with adventure, grit, passion, and freedom. She started her cowgirl career early.

While in high school, she raised drop calves, bottle feeding them before and after school. She sold the cows to buy herself a new Volkswagen, following in her brother’s footsteps.

After graduating high school in 1972, she moved to Ferndale, where she somehow turned into a full-fledged hippie. A few years later, she hitchhiked up to live the commune life in Seattle, then Yakima, Washington.

It was around 1978, when Karen and I were living at the 12th Street farmhouse with our children, Dean and Jocelyn, that Debi drifted back to Fortuna to take up residence in the large dairy barn on the property. She built a loft inside the barn, and although there were no household amenities, she used our house and our parent’s homes to supply those to her. It was a great family atmosphere, and my kids loved growing up with Debi on the farm. During that time, some of her friends from Washington would occasionally come down to visit sharing their stories, which we all loved. Debi always brought an abundance of wildlife wherever she lived.

Debi has had a deep love of animals, starting early when we were kids, she always had something furry or feathered to care for, but horses and dogs were her two extraordinary loves.

Horses shaped her life. While living in the barn loft, she started attending College of the Redwoods and took a horseshoeing class. This is where she met Doug Moore, who was teaching the class. Anybody involved in calf roping or hunting with hounds knew Doug. Debi fell in love, and they spent their best years together. Many horses and dogs followed, along with several great years of barrel racing, calf roping and trail riding.

Sometime during those years, I’m not sure when exactly, Debi was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It started slow, (“reoccurring” is how they referred to it), and episodes would come and go. It eventually progressed, and in those last years of her life she was totally wheelchair-bound. Because of this, she had to give up riding and many other things that she loved to do.

Debi belonged to the Cattle Women’s Association and ran a food stand at the Fortuna auction yard for years. If you’ve been, you’d know there was always something good to eat there. She also had a long-standing love of photography, and she captured many stunning photos of the people and things dear to her in life.

Debi has too many friends to mention individually. However, I would like to give my heartfelt appreciation and thanks to Kris Moore. She is true friend, living with Debi and taking care of her in her time of need. Thank You, Kris. Also, thank you Deb Fonson, for being a dear friend and helping Debi so much in life.

In these last few years, my wife Karen and I traveled with Debi to San Francisco many times for her treatment of MS. These were 14-hour round trips, and we never seemed to stop talking during the drive; exchanging shared memories of our lives and our families. These trips are now precious in my heart, and I consider it fortunate to have been able to spend that quality time with her near the end. We are all going to miss her.

Shortly before Debi passed away, Debi and Kris Moore’s favorite dog Oscar died. This was a terribly hard time for them both. Debi is with Oscar now and all the animals she loved. She is free to ride, hitchhike, live in a loft, and do whatever Debi wants, which is how she lived life. We could all be a little more like Debi, and if we were, we would be better for it.

Debi is predeceased by her husband Doug Moore and father Ozzie Smith. She is survived by her mother JoAnn Smith, brother Mike (Karen) Smith, nephew Dean Smith (Katie Kirk), niece Jocelyn Godinho (Joshua Dorris), great-nephews William Godinho (Alondra Martinez), Kazmar Axler and Ozzie Smith, and way too many cousins and friends to name.

We will have a celebration of life for Debi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2 p.m. in the barn at the North Coast Hitching Post, 2190 Table Bluff Rd, Loleta, CA 95551. Please R.S.V.P. by calling Mike Smith, (707) 498-4788. We look forward to sharing memories with you.

Rest in peace, Debi

Love, Mike, your family and friends,

We love you so much.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Debi Smith’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.