Debra Louise Wooten

Debra Louise Wooten (Wright) came into this world in San Diego, California, on a clear and comfortable Tuesday, November 15th, 1960, born to Richard and Eva Wright. On Saturday, October 17th, 2026, Debbie was called home by her Lord and Savior, leaving behind a legacy defined by family, compassion, and boundless love.

During her childhood, the Wright family moved from sunny San Diego to the peaceful countryside of Elmira, Oregon. There, Debbie spent her days running through the fields with her siblings and riding Jeanie around the property, creating childhood memories.

In the 1970s, the family briefly moved to Tigard and she attended Fowler Junior High later they moved to North Portland, where she attended Peninsula Elementary School and met her best friend, Ruthie Gert—a friendship that would last a lifetime.

She went on to attend Roosevelt High school, where she met her high school sweetheart, Craig, spending cherished time together as their relationship grew.

After high school, paths diverged as Craig joined the military and Debbie set off on adventures of her own.

She began working at Linden Farm in North Portland, where she met Hector Martin del Campo. Debbie and Hector married and shared 13 years together, briefly living in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, before returning to Portland and focusing on raising their two children, Estrella and David.

Following their separation, Debbie began homeschooling Estrella and David and started her own home cleaning business. She took her children on endless adventures, eventually finding a peaceful routine with her regular clients, including those nestled on Sauvie Island.

Later on, a family event brought a beautiful twist of fate when she reunited with Craig, and the two decided to start their relationship all over again. Together, they welcomed their son Josiah, moving a few times before happily settling back in North Portland.

A firm believer in Jesus Christ, Debbie’s Christian faith was the guiding light of her life and the foundation of her compassionate heart.

Her journey into foster care began when she stepped up to take in her nieces, unable to bear the thought of them being lost in the system or sleeping in a stranger’s home. That fierce protective instinct grew into a lifelong calling: throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, she opened her doors to foster between 50 and 60 children. She was the kind of person who would welcome a child at the drop of a dime—often taking in children late at night, offering safety, warmth, and unconditional love without hesitation.

Her home and heart were so open that when a group of four foster siblings came into her care, Debbie fought with everything she had to adopt all four of them together. Though the state of Oregon ultimately allowed her and Craig to officially adopt only the oldest boy, Ernesto, her determination to give all of them a loving forever home reflected the true depth of her caring spirit.

Her house was always an open sanctuary filled with warmth, chatter, and music playing on her stereo in the living room. She even had an unwritten rule for any guest: if you were in her house for more than two hours, you were officially family—which meant you were expected to jump right in and help with the house chores, projects, or cooking!

Above all else, Debbie was defined by her devotion to others. She routinely placed the needs and well-being of her loved ones before her own, worrying about everyone else far more than herself. Her incredible strength was proven beyond measure when she faced a cancer diagnosis while pregnant with her youngest daughter, Zamia. Through sheer grace of God, bravery, and determination, she survived and brought Zamia safely into the world, continuing to pour her endless love into her family.

Driven by that deep reverence for family connections and heritage, Debbie was also a lifelong genealogist. She turned her passion into action by building her ancestry, endlessly fascinated by her family tree and spending countless hours uncovering the stories, journeys, and history of her ancestors.

In her later years, one of her greatest joys was meeting up with her siblings for breakfast. They would hang out, share laughs, talk about the Lord, and reminisce about old times. Mom would usually show up last—true to her nickname “Myrtle Turtle” for walking so slow. During these breakfasts, she couldn’t help but brag endlessly about her children and all their accomplishments. While it sometimes felt like a bit too much was divulged in the moment, it always came from a place of immense, overflowing pride and love.

Debbie was a devoted partner to Craig Wooten and a deeply cherished mother to her children: Estrella, David, Ernesto, Josiah, and Zamia.

Her greatest joy was being “Grammie” to her nine grandchildren—William, Issak, Aralyn, Ethan, Osirus, Logan, Oliver, Jeriah, and Lenora—who all brought endless light and happiness to her heart.

Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Richard; her mother, Eva; her older sister, Diane; and her oldest brother, Tom.

She is lovingly remembered and survived by her partner, Craig Wooten; her siblings, Randy, Tammy, and Mark; her children; her grandchildren; and the countless foster children, extended family members, and friends whose lives were forever changed by her faith, strength, grace, humor, and kindness.

In true Debbie fashion, she never wanted a traditional, boring funeral. Instead, she wished for a party—a joyous gathering where family and friends can come together, laugh, tell stories, share good food, and enjoy her memory just as she enjoyed life through her children and in Christ.

She would say, “It’s a hard life, but a good life, but it’s worth living.”

We all love you, always & forever, and a day!