Debbie Beattie, 62, of Rexburg, passed away in her home, surrounded by her family, after an extended illness, near midnight on January 26, 2016.

Debbie was born on June 2, 1953 to Melvin and Faye Schwendiman. She grew up in the farming community of Newdale, Idaho. Because of that farming upbringing, she always loved the smell of freshly tilled earth and was excited to watch each year's harvest unfold (maybe even a little more so later in her life when she didn't have to rely on that harvest to live :) ). Debbie graduated from Sugar Salem High School. She married her husband, Blaik Beattie, on March 26, 1993 and they became an eternal companionship on April 26, 1995.

She had a zest for life and found good in everything and everyone. Her smile was infectious. She never learned the words give up or just good enough. Debbie worked 30 years for her brother's CPA firm until retiring this past summer. She loved the mountains and was able to enjoy them a little more up close and personal the past few years after investing in a RZR. However, the sun and beach were where she wanted to really be (flip-flops were her favorite foot attire and she was always melancholy when it was time to put them away in "December.")

Debbie was a sports enthusiast. It didn't much matter which one, but in the end, pro football was her favorite (The last two years have been difficult on her as her 49'ers collapsed…) She would say that she loved to play golf, but some expressions used on the course would maybe indicate otherwise :(

Debbie has 3 beautiful daughters and 7 wonderful grandchildren. She loved her family more than anything else and they were always a priority, even if she had to work all night in order to have time to attend an activity of one of her grandchildren, no sacrifice was too great to support them. One of her greatest lamentations was that she is going to miss so much yet to happen in their lives.

Though her family's faith is strong, this temporary separation comes with sadness. We will strive to live lives that would make her proud and to find opportunities to spend time on a beach in the sun with our eyes looking heavenward.

She is survived by her husband, Blaik of Rexburg; daughters Tracy Peterson Ashby of Meridian, Tara (Josh) Peterson Clark and Chance Beattie of Rexburg; father Melvin Schwendiman of Newdale; brother Randy (Sherie) Schwendiman of Rexburg; sister Deon (Richard) Stoddard of Rexburg; and seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother Faye, brother Scott Schwendiman and grandson Jayson Ashby.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2016, at the Burton LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Burton Cemetery.