Deborah Claire Hansen Reed-Holman

Deborah, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully at home on November 18th, 2023. She was surrounded by her loving children at the time of passing.

She was born to Leo Hansen and Barbara Groo on October 29th, 1950, in Salt Lake City, Utah. At five years old she moved with her family from Utah to Lafayette, California. At an early age Deborah’s love for performing began when she would create characters for anyone willing to be a captive audience.

In 1970 her family moved to Spokane, Washington. It was there she began performing in musical theater, including Oliver and Hello Dolly, while honing her skills as both playwright and director. The desire to touch people's hearts through media was entrenched and has never left her.

In 1980, Deborah joined the renowned McCarty Agency where, over the next twenty years, she worked extensively as a print model, makeup artist, and actor in film and hundreds of television ads. With her passion for children's self-esteem, she created a forum of children's classes as a means of introducing them to skills and confidence needed in 'the industry' while developing habits of positive thinking and self-respect for which she became instructor for the next fifteen years.

In 1989, Deborah landed the role of Creedence Leonore Gielgud, in Troll 2, and was adored by many fans, many of which became friends.

Deborah took a sabbatical from the industry from 1997 - 2000 when hired as Executive Assistant to United States Congressman Merrill Cook. Her areas of Special Interest were Youth, Disabilities, Heritage Foundation, and the Arts and Humanities. Among her accomplishments, she spearheaded the Bicentennial Local Legacies project, which documented Utah's Native American Heritige. Her work contributed to the office receiving multiple awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. During Cook's second term, Deborah produced and co-hosted the radio program, The Merrill Cook Show.

At various points she worked as a multi-talented artist; excelling in fine arts painting, and Trompe l'oeil murals, writing children’s stories, crafting jewelry, and other creative passions. She soon met her husband, radio personality Randy Holman. They started their own multimedia production company, producing a television series they co-hosted, It's All About Homes, as well as documentaries and TV commercials for clients. They ran the company together until Randy's untimely death from cancer in 2012.

Later in life, she managed the media accounts for her good friend John Cottam (The Spectacle in Historic Trolly Square) by creating content that spoke volumes of her personality.

Despite all of Deborah’s amazing accomplishments, she had a strong testimony in Jesus Christ and exemplified it through her love and actions with her children, grandchildren, family, fur-babies, and everyone she encountered.

Her compassion for all animals brought attention to shelter animals and the need for publicized uplifting adoption stories through her recent work as a writer and blogger. She found humanity through humor and made us all laugh.

In 2017, Deborah was diagnosed with CLL which later evolved into Richter’s Syndrome, and passed away on November 18th, 2023, due to complications of cancer.

She is preceded in death by her husband Randy Holman. Survived by her former husbands Peter Anderegg (father of Gavin) and Philip Reed (father of Remington); children Gavin Reed and Remington Reed (Christy); and Grandchildren Moss and Zoey. She is preceded in death by her brother Eric (Anabel) and survived by her brother Dave (Sallie).

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Ward Canyon Ward, 540 N. 1200 E., Bountiful, UT 84010.  A visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah, and Saturday morning from 10:00-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. 

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

Deborah will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

We love you so much Mom and Mimi!