Deborah Kaicher Barnes, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Durango, Colorado. Deborah was born to Edward Kaicher & Eleanor Link. She grew up in Southern California, where she developed a lifelong love for the beach, sunshine, and nature. Just after college, she made her home in the mountains of Durango, where she found joy in hiking, exploring the outdoors, and caring for animals. She often said she was both a beach girl and a mountain girl at heart. For 25 years, Deborah served as a science teacher with the Durango School District, where she was known for her patience, warmth, and ability to make learning come alive. She inspired countless students to appreciate the natural world and to approach life with curiosity and kindness. Deborah married Thad Barnes, her devoted husband of 48 years, and together they built a loving home filled with laughter and faith. She was a proud and caring mother to Christie, Lanny, and Tracy Barnes, and a deeply adored grandmother to Tiegan, Grady, Hadley, and Emery. Her family was the center of her world, and she cherished every moment spent with them. Deborah will be remembered for her gentle strength, her generous heart, and her love of family, nature, and community. Her legacy of compassion and curiosity lives on in all who had the privilege to know her. A celebration of life will be held in Durango at the St. Columbus Church on December 6th at 10:00am, reception to follow at the Durango Library, Room 2. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to P.E.O Chapter FX, which supports women in education as well as other causes that were close to Deb’s heart. Checks can be mailed to “P.E.O Chapter FX”, 332 Horse Thief Lane, Durango, CO 81301. Specify “StarX Scholarship” in the memo line. Star X Scholarship is a scholarship for young girls pursuing higher education.