Deborah Forsythe

Deborah Jean (Day) Forsythe “slipped the surly bonds of earth… and touched the face of God” (John Gillespie Magee Jr. “High Flight”) on July 17, 2026 at 77 years old. She died peacefully in her Belleville home, surrounded by the love of her husband, Dennis, her beloved dog, Riker, her three children, Larissa Forsythe, Meghan DeGroot, and Travis Forsythe, and so many others who held her in their hearts.

She was born on June 9, 1949 to Lois (Marshall) and Parvin Day in Evansville, Indiana, making the world an immediately brighter place.

Deborah had a brilliant mind, an empathetic heart, and an adventurous spirit. She skipped a grade in elementary school and was valedictorian of the class of 1966 at Spoon River Valley High School. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Education from University of Missouri St. Louis and a Master’s degree in Counseling from University of Evansville Indiana graduating Phi Kappa Phi in the top 10 percent of her class.

She met Dennis, the love of her life, at the beach in Marissa Recreation Area. It took some convincing on Dennis’s part but, after that first date, the two were inseparable. They married on January 27, 1967.

The two had many adventures in their nearly 60 years of marriage: running the ski shop they built with Den’s brother Ron and his wife Jean across from Purgatory Ski resort in Durango, Colorado; raising three kids – and dozens of horses – in four states; too many cross country trips to count; and spending precious time with their grandchildren Marceline, Alex, Noah, Logan, Tessa, and TJ – who called her Mangaw.

Though her dad hoped she’d be a doctor and she dreamed of being a writer, Deb found her calling in teaching. During her career, she served in seven schools across four states. She taught for 42 years, 20 of which were spent teaching in the Alternative Education program at Career Center of Southern Illinois formerly known as “Beck”, working with At-risk high school students who needed a second chance. She started a drama troupe called “Outside the Box” where her students traveled to area middle and grade schools performing skits that they wrote about bullying to help spread awareness and to give kids practical solutions to help each other. Deborah approached teaching as she approached life: with joy, passion, brilliance, and boundless dedication. Many of her students still profess she was their favorite teacher of all time.

In her rare spare time, Deb was a prolific writer, authoring a blog https://deborahdayforsythe.wordpress.com books, short stories, articles, poems, and even an episode for a 1970’s television series that was in the final stages of approval before the show was unexpectedly canceled. She was also a sewing extraordinaire, soap maker, lover of dogs, clouds, ideas, and the belief that we are all better working together while still honoring the individuality of each person.

Deborah is survived by her:

• Husband: Dennis
• Children:
  • Travis
  • Meghan
  • Larissa
• Children-In-Law:
  • Nicole
  • Tom
• Brother: Michael Day and his wife, Marilyn
• Brother-In-Law: Ronald Forsythe and his wife, Jean
• Nieces and Nephews
• Countless friends, colleagues, and students

Deborah Forsythe’s Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 31 at 5 pm at First United Presbyterian Church, 1303 Royal Heights Road, Belleville, Illinois, 62223.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “In memory of Deborah Fund” at the Career Center of Southern Illinois to help purchase clothes, food, and other necessities for students in need.

Obit Provided By:
Kurrus Funeral Home