Debra Gordley Des Moines

Debra Starling Gordley (née Holt) beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died unexpectedly Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, of a pulmonary embolism in Des Moines.

She is survived by her husband Richard Gordley; son and daughter-in-law, Rico and Nicole Starling; grandsons, Marco and Alesso Starling, all of Des Moines; siblings, Brenda (Jerry) Turnage of Texas, Denise Holt of Des Moines and Stephen Holt of Des Moines; sisters-in-law, Wendy Boylan (Mike) of Illinois and Jan Gordley (Glenn) of Arizona; aunt Crystal Wicker of Pleasant Hill; uncle William (Linda) Moore of Norwalk and many cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Wavalene Holt; grandparents; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Born Sept. 28, 1955, in Des Moines to William and Wavalene Holt, Deb attended schools in Des Moines, Osceola and then received her Associates Degree in mechanical drafting from DMACC. She was employed from 1980 to 1994 by Johnson Machine Works in Chariton. She served as an administrative assistant at Des Moines University in the SPAL department from 2000 until her death.

Debra’s core passion was music. She was an accomplished musician, and a member of the Des Moines Community Orchestra for 30 years where she sat as principal oboist for the last 21 years.

A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in Wesley Hall at Grace Methodist Church, 3700 Cottage Grove, in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to one of the following organizations: Des Moines Community Orchestra, PO Box 1796, Des Moines, IA 50306, online at www.desmoinescommunityorchestra.org/money_matters.htm or Hearts United for Animals, PO Box 286, Auburn, NE 68305.