Obituaries

Debra Lynn Suggitt, age 73, of Kinross, Michigan passed away peacefully in her home on July 21, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Debbie was born in Sault Ste. Marie on April 22, 1953, the daughter of Harry and Catherine (Ozanich) Geske of Trout Lake, Michigan.

Debbie grew up in the Engadine and Trout Lake areas and graduated from Rudyard High School. She studied at Lake Superior State for a short time and then began the most important vocation of her life - her family. Debbie married her high school sweetheart Scott Suggitt on February 26, 1972. They were wed at the Presbyterian Church in the Soo and were blessed with three children, Carrie, Malinda, and Christopher. They began their family in Dafter before settling in Kinross and celebrated 54 years together.

After her children were older, Debbie began her professional career in the late 1980s with Sault Savings Bank, where she faithfully served customers and her community for more than twenty-six years. She later joined the Michigan Department of Corrections as the warden's secretary, a position she held for ten years until her retirement in 2015.

Debbie enjoyed staying active. You could often find her breaking a sweat at a fitness class lead by her daughter or plugging her nose for a cannonball with her grandchildren in the pool. She had an incredible knack for solving problems and was always eager to take on a DIY project - “We can do that.” She loved the farm in Engadine and having family gather there to have fun, split one, tell old stories, and make new ones. Musically talented, Debbie played the accordion, violin, piano, spoons, and sang back up. She was an avid fan of the Rudyard Bulldogs, the Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers, and the Sault High Blue Devils. Nothing brought her greater happiness than attending her granddaughter’s sporting events, school plays, concerts, and dance shows, where she was always one of their biggest supporters and had to be in the front row.

Above all, Debbie's greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and an adoring grandmother who treasured every moment spent with those she loved. Her drive, tenacity, ideas, dress sweats, kindness, and generous heart will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Scott; daughter, Carrie Suggitt-Novak of Kinross; son, Christopher (Kristen) Suggitt of Pigeon, Michigan; grandchildren, Sydney (Scott) Stuberg, Grace, Faith, and Claire Suggitt, Fairyn Novak; great-granddaughter, Lauren Suggitt; brother, Jeff (Charlotte) Geske of Lapeer, Michigan; mother-in-law, Phyllis Suggitt of Rudyard; brothers-in-law, Denny (Deanna) Suggitt of Sault Ste. Marie, Ricky Suggitt of Sault Ste. Marie, and Jimmy (Heather) Suggitt of Kinross; and sister-in-law, Lori (LeRoy) Pieri of Cedarville, Michigan, along with many nieces, nephews, & cousins.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Catherine; infant daughter, Malinda; father-in-law, Oren “Red” Suggitt; and siblings, Karen Sherman, Brent Geske, and Douglas Geske.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026 from 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM at Family Life Funeral Homes, 4951 S. M-129, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. The Service will begin at 3:00 PM with the burial to follow.

Debbie’s final resting place will be at Pine Grove Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be given to Kinross Lions Club, P.O. Box 76, Kinross, MI 49752.

Condolences may be given to the family at www.familylifefh.com.