Deborah Draper

Our mother, Deborah Lynne Draper, passed away at her home in Cottonwood Heights on Saturday, February 4th 2023. She was born to Robert and Sandra Gentry in Salt Lake City on March 25th 1957. She graduated from Jordan High School in 1976. She married our father, Leon Draper, on April 2nd, 1975 and the two of them have been together ever since.

They have four sons: Ryan, Cory, Zach, and Derek. She gave us the invaluable gift of being a stay at home parent, while also providing childcare for others to help earn money for the household. Despite being at home with four rambunctious boys, plus a few neighborhood kids, she was always patient, empathetic, and kind. Until you went too far, then you knew you were in trouble. If you could make mom visibly angry, you really messed up.

She loved her family and always looked out for us. She was a supportive shoulder to cry on when we needed it. She celebrated our successes and lamented our losses with us. She also wasn’t afraid to tell us the truth when we needed to hear it. Most importantly, she told us to find something that would make us happy.

She role modeled these values by pursuing her desire to work in the medical field. She worked for Intermountain Healthcare for nearly two decades, and she loved it. In her time there she made friends that she cherished and spoke of often. To her IHC family, thank you!

She is survived by her aforementioned husband and children, but also by ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild: (Ryan) Brock, Allieson, Breelyn, Zayden, Fynn & Skyler; (Cory) Abigail & Blake; (Zach) Dylan & Maren; (Allieson) Zayla. She is also survived by her daughters in-law and son in-law: Stacie Kerwin, Gailla Draper, Melissa Draper, Kira Draper, and Trystan Peery.

Our mom is truly missed. We never fully understood what she sacrificed and did for us, until we had families and responsibilities of our own. She was a unique individual that always knew what to say, and always had a funny story to share. Her granddaughters always looked forward to “spilling tea with Grandma”. It is universally undisputed that she made the world’s best cinnamon rolls.

A small private service will be held on March the 22nd 2023, from 10am to 12pm at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary 4760 S State St, Murray, UT 84107. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Humane Society of Utah.