Memorial services will be held at a later date for 68-year old Chadron native Deb Arthur, of Aurora, NE.
Memorials may be made in care of the family to designate at a later date.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.
Deborah Jane (Darlington) Arthur was born the daughter of Thomas William and Lois Mae (Berlie) Darlington on Feb 10, 1955 in Chadron, NE, and passed away on Wed, Jan 10, 2024, at Bickford Cottage in Grand Island, NE
Deb grew up in Chadron and attended West Ward Elementary and Chadron Middle School before graduating from Chadron High School in 1973.
During high school, she worked at Down’s Paint & Wallpaper and Model Laundry in Chadron. After graduation, Deb attended Chadron State College for a year and UNL for a year.
Deb married Tim Arthur on June 12, 1976 at Sacred Heart Parish in Lincoln, NE. To this union were born 4 children: John, Mary, Sarah, and Linda.
Deb was the consummate wife and mother. When John was born, she agonized over returning to work at First Federal, not wanting to leave him in daycare.
We managed to work it out to let her forego employment and stay home to be a Mom. She was able to complete that role through the raising of the four kids.
She learned to sew through 4-H in Middle/High School, and was an accomplished seamstress. Easter and Christmas outfits for the kids were great, and Halloween costumes were stellar.
Deb loved her flowers and the landscape around the house was always colorful in the spring and summer. Greenhouses, garden centers and botanical gardens were her inspiration.
If she loved window shopping, she really loved shopping for her flowers. For a number of years, she was the primary mowing resource – an hour of “quiet time” pushing the mower around the yard.
Animals were always a soft spot for Deb. Dogs and cats were all friends when she met them. The house became a sanctuary for a number of stray cats, to the point that many friends referred to her as “the crazy cat lady.”
Her Eva had a special place in her heart, along with our first dog, Sugar.
After moving to Aurora in 1992, she took up walking with friends and neighbors. Lord knows how many miles she trod, and those who walked with her will always remember the good times.
This continued up until the time that dementia required a more secure environment.
Chocolate. She always appreciated a gift of chocolate – birthday, Christmas, whenever. She was a consummate baker, and many of her favorite recipes included this wondrous flavor.
Birthdays at her house always included cakes – usually of the chocolate variety – and all were delicious. She was tagged as a go-to for graduation goodies and shared her skills with all who requested them.
For her children, the graduation party was dessert-themed, and the best offerings were her Oreo Cookie Cake and Murder by Chocolate (recipes are available by request.)
During the high school years of all her children, the door was always open. Countless dinner times involved more than the six people housed at 214. She always said it was easier to cook for an army than a few, so there was often a crowd at her table.
Deb returned to work when the youngest child was in high school. spending a number of years working at Mo-Nets and then Hope Home Furnishings while also volunteering at the Plainsman Museum.
Her legacy lives on in her children and those she met every day. Deb was a friend to all and the best Mom one could ask for.
Deb was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Lois Darlington; brother Tommy (died at birth) and sister Ann Wohlers of Kenai, AK.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Tim Arthur of Aurora; children John (Ann) Arthur of Solon, IA; Mary Arthur of Baltimore, MD; Sarah Arthur (Tanner Westlake) of Grand Island; and Linda Arthur (Paul Bernday) of Bennington, NE; grandchildren Natalie and Edward of Solon, IA; brother Louis Darlington of Yankton, SD, and many nieces and nephews.
Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora, NE, is in charge of arrangements for Deb Arthur