Deborah (Christopherson) Schuetz

Deborah Schuetz passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at the age of 71 at Rogers House assisted living facility after courageously battling the debilitating effects of a stroke for more than 24 years.

Deborah was born on July 12, 1949 in Waco, TX to parents Travis and Margaret (Peevey) Christopherson. Following graduation from Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, she attended McLennan Community College and Baylor University before earning a Bachelors degree in 1984 from Hawaii Pacific College in Honolulu, HI.

She was united in marriage to Richard Schuetz on May 15, 1971 in Waco and they immediately set out on what turned out to be an exciting and rewarding 30-year journey with the United States Air Force that included more than a dozen moves and almost an equal number of jobs for Deborah. Her career included bank teller in Orlando, Florida; Civil Service positions in Guam and South Carolina; as well as positions with Microelectronics and Computer Technology in Austin TX; the National Right to Work Foundation in Washington, D.C.; and Science Applications International Corporation in Albuquerque. Along the way, Deborah earned certification by the National Association of Purchasing Management as Certified Purchasing Manager. However, more important than her career, with each move to military bases in Alabama, Florida, Guam, South Carolina, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, D.C., and New Mexico, Deborah made her family a priority. She created a warm and welcoming home, immersed her daughters into new schools and youth activities and integrated herself into her new community.

Deborah is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Dennis and Douglas.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, USAF Retired Colonel Richard Schuetz of Albuquerque; daughter, Laura Sandager, husband David, and granddaughter Kaitlyn of Albuquerque; daughter, Kristin Schuetz, partner Joshua Fristoe, and grandchildren Elliot, Isabel, and Greyson also of Albuquerque; and sister, Diane Christopherson of Austin, TX.

The family would like to thank the Ambassadors of Care's management and especially the Rogers House nurses and staff for their grace and loving care they bestowed upon Deborah over the past 18 months and to Brenda, Deborah's Presbyterian Hospice Social Worker, for the comfort, friendship, and peace she brought into her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Albuquerque Stroke Club.