Deborah Scovel, long-time Vashon resident who served the island’s special needs students for more than two decades, died Friday (12/23/16) at a Burien hospice after losing her battle with liver disease. She was 64.
Family and friends describe “Debbie” (as she preferred to be called) as a free-spirited woman with an off-beat, sharp sense of humor who gave generously of her time, gifts and perspectives to her emotionally, mentally, and physically challenged students and to everyone she encountered. Of her devotion to her beloved students, her daughter Crystal recalled, “They loved her. She had a stern nature that didn’t seem mean,” adding, “Her main goal was to make them confident and comfortable enough to be around other kids without being ostracized. She shined when she was helping children.”
Her work for the Vashon Island School District began in the early 1990s and continued until two years ago, when injuries sustained in a fall cut her career short and limited her mobility.
Her official job title at Chautauqua Elementary and Vashon Island High was “para-educator,” a cold bureaucratic word belying the personal warmth and dedication she gave to those she served.
“She was like a mom,” former colleague Sheri Hamlow said, recalling pre-holiday shopping trips with Debbie to buy gifts for their students. Her manner of teaching “was very engaging,” Hamlow said, “but there always was laughter with her.”
Hints of Debbie’s wry humor also emerged on her Facebook page, topped by a sprawling picture of her beloved cat “Dahlia.” She listed her Facebook name as Debbie Cowan Gallant Scovel, practically a four word autobiography reflecting chapters in her life.
Born in Yakima in 1952, she moved with her parents, James and Ruth Cowan, to Seattle in the late 1960s, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1970. While attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, she met fellow student William “Billy” Gallant. They were married in 1973 and settled briefly in Seattle.
In 1976 they moved to Vashon, living – quite literally, – on the beach in a rough cabin. Later, in a more conventional home on SW 110th Street, they began raising their three children, April Gallant Murasky, now of Burien, Crystal Gallant, of San Clemente, CA, and Michael Gallant, of Port Hadlock.
As a homemaker, Debbie was an accomplished gardener who canned, pickled and jammed much of her produce to share with others. She found other creative outlets in sewing, crafts and playing her guitar, “She didn’t spend a lot of time learning to do things,” daughter Crystal said. “She just did them.”
When her marriage to Gallant ended, Debbie partnered with Jeffrey Scovel, who worked then, as he does today, at the island’s Thriftway Market. They married in 2001. He remembers happy times.
“Her voice, her laughter. She could cheer a room. Those are among the things I am going to miss,” he said.
In addition to her husband and children, survivors include sisters Laurie Cowan, of Mercer Island, and Janet Cowan Day, of Gig Harbor; son-in-law Walter Murasky, of Burien; and daughter-in-law Jennifer Monroe Gallant, of Port Hadlock.
A drop-by memorial gathering will be held Friday January 6th from 2pm to 6pm at the Point Robinson Lighthouse Quarters A. All friends and family are welcome.
The family asks that memorial contributions in Debbie’s name be made to benefit the Vashon Island Pet Protectors, PO Box 245, Vashon Island WA 98070 or,
on-line, www.vipp.org.
Please visit our online guestbook at www.islandfuneral.com.
