Nov. 17, 1942 - May 20, 2012
Deborah Susan Lawrence Clausen, age 69, a resident of Bend, Oregon, passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2012, with her loving husband, Max and Kate,
daughter and best friend, at her bedside.
Debbie was born November 17, 1942, in The Dalles, Oregon, the oldest of four children.
During the early evening, just before a total solar eclipse, the brightest light in Maxs life slipped quietly away. Max and Debbie enjoyed 40 plus wonderful years together. She filled his life with such joy. Kate felt Debbie was the best Mom in the world.
Debbie graduated from The Dalles High School in 1960 and received her BA degree from the University of Oregon and her MBA from the University of Washington. At the beginning of her career, she worked at Sawyers in Portand, Foremost McKesson in San Francisco and Mattel Toys in Los Angeles, in marketing research. Her excellent business sense and innate ability to get the most from others, helped her succeed in many areas.
Debbie and Max moved to Richland, Washington to work for Westinghouse Hanford where she was hired as the Manager of Publications and soon promoted to Manager of Maintenance, Planning and Scheduling. She helped create the Richland Arts Commission, writing their charter and operating plan. Governor Dan Evans named her to the first Washington State Womens Council in 1974.
Before her retirement, Debbie was promoted to Senior Vice President for Nations Bank of Maryland and was the operations manager for the bank president. She owned and operated a travel agency for five years in order to fine-tune her love for travel. As a consultant, she was often asked to help other companies restructure their marketing operations.
In her private life, Debbie traveled extensively with Max, was a connoisseur of art, good music and wine and enjoyed a wide circle of friends and professional relationships. Debbie was passionate about finding solutions and applied her expertise in community and charitable activities, serving recently on the boards of the Bend City Club, the Meadow Lark Manor for young girls and Bends Art Beautification and Culture Committee.
She is survived by her husband, Max; daughter, Kate; brothers, Steve, Joe and David; and numerous nieces, nephews, great- nieces and great-nephews.
She previously lost both her parents, William J. Lawrence and June E. Lawrence.
At Debbies request, there will be no service. A celebration of her life will be announced later.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Meadow Lark Manor, 2120 NE Bear Creek Rd., Bend, OR @meadowlarkmanor.org. Debbie was committed to the mission of Meadow Lark Manor, a residential treatment program for young girls and often talked of its important work.
Debbie Clausen
