Deborah Yeaton McWhorter
September 28, 1968 – June 13, 2020

Memorial services for Deborah Yeaton McWhorter, 51, of Scottsdale, AZ, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, at the Chamberlain Community Center in Chamberlain, SD.
Memorial services were also held at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary of 6500 East Bell Road in Scottsdale, AZ. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, a viewing was open to all from 4 to 6 p.m.
Monday, June 22, 2020, at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary of 6500 East Bell Road in Scottsdale, AZ.
It was suggested that last names starting from A through M come any time from 4 to 5 p.m. and N through Z from 5 to 6 p.m.
The memorial service was by invitation only due to occupancy limits.
Masks were preferred.
Deborah Yeaton McWhorter left this earth peacefully holding her Dad’s hand on June 13, 2020.
Deborah Yeaton McWhorter was born Sept. 28, 1968, at Chamberlain, SD.
She was a gymnast, cheerleader, honor student, basketball star, played percussion in the band and was junior class president. She helped form the post-prom activity committee which is still active today. She was the beautiful Snow Queen of the Chamberlain area and went to college on a basketball scholarship. She received her electrical engineering degree with honors in 1991 from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology of Rapid City, SD.
Deb worked for Honeywell in their commercial aviation division as a point engineer in guidance and control systems for Boeing and Airbus commercial planes. She also worked on the Orian Space Capsule, Mars Lander and many other projects.
Deb was an amazing mom who, along with work, found time to be heavily involved with school activities. She was especially involved in the Pinnacle High School Band Program as Band Booster president. She referred
to everyone in the band as “her kids” and served as a role model for so many. She spent countless hours organizing their events and fund-raising for the band program.
Some activity highlights of Deb’s life included roller blade hockey, skydiving, bungee cord jumping, water skiing, hiking canyons and mountains, fishing, camping, hot air ballooning and traveling abroad, She was on a
roller derby team and of course, the Cardinals number one fan!
Deb did not give up – her body did. Deb chose to fight and not give in to cancer and she won for over two years. She paved the way and inspired us all to fight any future battles we may encounter. She encouraged many others through pancreatic cancer forums.
Grateful for having shared her life are her father, Denny Yeaton and stepmother, Kay; a brother, Todd Yeaton and wife, Keileen and his family; husband, Steve McWhorter; sons, Jacob McWhorter, Zachary McWhorter and Matthew McWhorter; a stepbrother, Doug Hofer and family; a stepsister, Lori Bell’s family and several aunts and uncles.
Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary of 6500 East Bell Road in Scottsdale, AZ, was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, an account has been set up at Wells Fargo in the name of “Deborah McWhorter Music Memorial Fund” for future band scholarships.