Deborah Ann Lande Sandvig died July 26, 2016 in Seattle WA after a short battle with cancer.

Debbie was born in Seattle on August 3, 1953, the oldest of five children of Robert and Mary Ann Lande, and a member of the fourth generation to grow up on the Lande Farm on Vashon Island. She attended Vashon schools where as a high school student she was very involved in drama and had the lead in many plays, even winning the Best Actress award her senior year.

After taking early graduation from Vashon High School in March of 1971, in a hurry to start her grownup life, Debbie moved to Seattle where she went to work for the National Bank of Commerce as a messenger. She stayed with the bank as it became Rainier National Bank, then Security Pacific, and ended her banking career in 1991 as a supervisor in Bank Operational Services. Not long after, she was recruited to "help out" at her sister's design firm, Sechrist Design Associates, and ended up staying there for 23 years as Office and Finance Manager. She was an integral and trusted part of the leadership team.

In 1973 Debbie married her high school sweetheart, Warren Sandvig and shortly thereafter they moved to Germany where he served in the U.S. Army; Debbie got a job in the commissary on the base. In 1975, they returned to West Seattle and in 1977 had a son, Gary, who was the joy of her life. She was a vocal fan at every one of Gary's baseball and soccer games, and she loved taking him and his friends on camping trips.

Debbie loved to travel – everything from road trips to cruises to sun-filled escapes to Mexico and Hawaii, and one memorable trip to Ireland. Everywhere she went, Debbie not only made friends, but kept them, and stayed in touch with thoughtful cards, letters, emails, and phone calls. She was fiercely loyal and never willingly let a friend disappear from her life; she still remained in contact with many classmates she had known since kindergarten on Vashon.

With her competitive nature, Debbie not only loyally cheered on her Mariners, Seahawks, and Sonics, but relished puzzles and games of all kinds – and was good at them! She loved her family dearly, and kept them close, spoiling her nieces and nephews shamelessly. Beautiful flowers would always elicit a cry of delight, and she was a connoisseur of detective stories (she was sometimes known as Nancy Drew to her friends) and cooking shows on TV.

Modest and kind, with a megawatt smile, Debbie enjoyed the simple things in life and was happiest when she could watch other people being happy. She loved special occasions and parties, and you could always depend on Debbie to attend any kind of function with her trusty camera in tow to capture those memories. Her family dubbed her Hors d'oeuvres Queen for the scrumptious appetizers she always made for family occasions.

Debbie is survived by her son Gary Sandvig, his wife Renee and grandchildren Ana and Jesse Perez-Frias, all of Normandy Park; her father and stepmother, Robert and Darline Lande of Vashon Island; her sister Melinda Sechrist (Mike), Seattle; her brothers Bob Lande of Long Beach, California, and Michael Lande (Katrina) of Vashon; numerous nephews and nieces; and her beloved dog, Stitch. Debbie's mother, Mary Ann Lande, and her sister, Lorrie Niles, predeceased her.

A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, August 18 at 1 pm, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Vashon Island, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Highline Medical Foundation Comfort Cart. Reception to follow at the home of Robert and Darline Lande 25824 76th Ave SW