Deborah (Debby) Maxine Reed Hyatt

Deborah (Debby) Maxine Reed Hyatt, age 68, passed away peacefully at Roane Medical Center in Harriman, TN  after courageously fighting a sudden  illness that began in February.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents to whom she was very close, James Oscar & Loma (Coker) Phillips, her parents, Ernest & Gladys (Phillips) Reed, her mother-in-law, Marilyn Reynolds Hyatt, and her stepson Lance Hyatt (wife Michelle) who passed away earlier this year. 

She is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Lynn R. Hyatt, her son Shane Miller, wife Alishia, her daughter Shawnte Miller Stansberry-Whitaker, husband Bobby. Debby is also survived by her daughter Candace Hyatt Bailey, husband Tom, her stepson Lynn Hyatt Jr, wife Kelly as well as her beloved grandchildren Shana Miller Leach, Jake Miller, Russell (R.T.) Stansberry III, Rylan Stansberry. Her step-grandchildren Christian Hyatt, Sasha Brennan, Nicolas Moser, Jaylynn Grace Rutherford.  She is also survived by her loving brother Zane Reed, wife Jeanine and her sister Sarah Reed Smith, husband Oliver. Her sister Anna Tapp Koch, husband Howard & brother Brian Tapp, both of Bryan, Ohio. She loved her niece and nephews Olivia Smith, Marc Reed, Bryan Reed, Jeff Reed, and Crosse Smith as well as a host of great nieces & nephews too. 

Debby loved and was devoted to her four-legged babies. She will be greatly missed by her chihuahuas, Dixie, Elvira, Katie & Star.

Debby could best be described as an angel on earth. She simply loved everyone and would go out of her way to find the best in everyone she knew. She was an amazing cook and best known for her Italian Cream Cake, Blackberry Wine Cake, and Chocolate Coconut Candy. She and husband Lynn always had something cooking on the stove anytime you could stop by, and yes, they wanted to feed you! She loved both the beach and the mountains alike. They traveled and camped for many years until their health began to fail them. 

In her working years, Debby achieved various degrees and had many experiences. She began working at Hills Department Store as a teenager. She worked as a lab assistant during the summers for C.A.R.L. a medical research laboratory then spent some time working at Oak Ridge Associated Universities Medical Department as a lab assistant. One of her favorite careers included attaining her CDL license to drive a dump truck, as well as a school bus for several years. She spent several years at a naval shipyard in Newport News, Virginia where she specialized in the use of a Geiger counter for testing for radiation. Following that, she moved back to Tennessee and became a medical transcriber but soon advanced to director of a TAT school in Oak ridge where she taught a class for speed typing. Her last few career years were spent in management at Watsons Warehouse in Knoxville, TN. 

Debby enjoyed the history of Oliver Springs, Tennessee and supported the efforts of the Oliver Springs Historical Society in the creation of its museum in downtown Oliver Springs. In Lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Oliver Springs Historical Society at P.O. Box 409 Oliver Springs, TN 37716. Please note for your donation to be in the memory of Debby Hyatt.  

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Details to be announced

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