Debbie Mccallum

Deborah Ann McCallum "Debbie", passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, February 2, 2018. Debbie had been battling cervical cancer since late 2012. After surgery to remove the cancer, all indications were that she had beaten it. Unfortunately, the disease resurfaced in early 2014 and she fought it with all she had for as long as she could.

Debbie was born in Dearborn, Michigan on November 18, 1963 to Edward "Ed" Nelson and Marion Collums-Nelson. Her parents both died while Debbie was a young woman but if you knew Debbie then you felt like you knew her parents. She talked about them often with so much love and admiration.

Debbie entered the automobile industry in Detroit, MI, at a very young age at a time when very few women where in the industry. She was successful immediately, often earning “Top Salesperson” awards to the dismay of her male counterparts. She built on this success and eventually leveraged it into starting her own successful business in which she used her skill and experience to travel the mid-west selling products to and consulting with automotive dealerships to help them increase their sales. Debbie later moved to Columbia, MO where she took some time off and had her daughter Holly.

Debbie met her husband Craig McCallum in 2002 while she was living in Columbia, MO. They courted for 3 years and in 2005 she, Craig, and Holly moved to Taos, NM. Debbie loved Taos and always said that she wanted to go back after retirement. In 2006, Debbie, Craig, and Holly moved to Seattle, WA where Craig was from. Since Debbie’s parents were deceased and she did not see her siblings in Detroit often, she adopted Craig’s family as her own and they did the same in return. Debbie was always known as the comedian at family get-togethers. Craig’s family especially loved her many animated impersonations, usually done in a polish accent.

While living in the Seattle area, Debbie joined Carter Subaru where she continued to have success as one of the few female Sales Managers in all of Subaru Nationwide. She developed many friendships while at Carter and looked at many of her co-workers as family. Her customers also loved her and would usually get a hug from Debbie after the sale. It was not uncommon for Debbie to get phone calls from customers telling her how much they enjoyed the purchasing process that Debbie managed.

Debbie loved the outdoors. She loved riding with Craig on their Harley-Davidson and hiking in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Debbie loved traveling, especially (exclusively, really) to warm climate locations. Hawaii and the Caribbean were her favorite places. In September of 2017, Debbie had her first grandchild, Penelope “Poppy” Crutchfield. Debbie’s eyes would light up every time she saw her.

Debbie is survived by her Husband Craig, together 16 years, her Daughter Holly Crutchfield, Granddaughter Penelope Crutchfield, several brother’s and sister’s in Michigan, her nephew Joey Bartok, niece Jenny Alvare, her husband Danny, and their three daughters Ashley, Brook, Sloan, and Piper.

A Celebration of Debbie’s Life will be held on Saturday, February 17 from 1pm to 4pm at the Lake Forest Bar and Grill located at 17535 Ballinger Way NE, Seattle, WA 98155.