Deborah Terese Leonard

Deborah Terese Leonard, 73, passed away on March 24, 2024, in Idaho Falls from medical problems and causes incident to age.

"Debbie" was born October 15, 1950, in Idaho Falls, to Louis Faye and Emilie Minerva (Gibbons) Leonard. She was the youngest of a brother and two sisters. She spent her youth growing up and attending schools in the Idaho Falls area and graduated from Bonneville High School. Her family built a beautiful cabin in the Island Park area where she enjoyed spending time throughout her life. Following graduation from high school, she was briefly married to Rockne Ray "Rocky" Wickham.

Later, Debbie married Jeong Sook Lee, a renowned martial arts master. They opened various "dojo" martial arts training facilities throughout the Northwest, including Tacoma, Washington, and Pocatello, Idaho, where they would also present amazing martial arts demonstrations.  They had a daughter, Cara Nichole (sometimes called "Raven"), born in 1980. Eventually, however, this interesting chapter in their lives came to a close and they went their separate ways.

Later, because of her skill in office secretarial work, she found employment at the local engineering lab site, at the Test Reactor Area (TRA) where she received high praise for her expertise. At the site, she met an engineer, Robert "Bob" Conrad. They were married and settled down on a lovely little horse farm where they enjoyed riding their horses with family members. However, after 15 years of marriage, they parted ways and Debbie remained single, continuing to live in Idaho Falls.

Debbie was the kind of woman Shakespeare was referring to when he wrote: "Though she be but little, she is fierce." She was a devoted mother, a rebel at heart, and a published poet. Her personality was generous, highly sensitive, fun loving, and passionate. She enjoyed riding horses, traveling, playing board games with her family, dancing, and telling stories. She was committed to her personal growth and worked hard to improve herself.

Although Debbie's life was rich and filled with memories, the last chapter was marked by the tragic passing of her only child - a sorrow she carried the rest of her years. She firmly believed they would be reunited after death - a hope her family members share.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Carolyn; and her daughter, Cara. She is survived by a brother, James (Jim) Leonard; a sister, Barbara Christensen; and various nieces and nephews.

As per her wishes, she was cremated and her ashes laid to rest in the family plot at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery.