Debra Kay McFadden

Debra Kay McFadden

A remarkable life of family, public service, love of music, travel and faith; was experienced by Debra McFadden. She was born December 6th ,1952 to Frank Wyatt and his wife Myrtle Branch Wyatt. Debra was the youngest of three children and was preceded in death by both parents and her brothers, Larry and Patrick. Starting life in Sacramento, California, she also lived in Paso Robles, Atascadero, and the Fresno area. A few highlights of growing up in California included concerts by the Beach Boys, the Beatles, etc. at Disneyland. While on the family ranch, she watched the filming of the television show Rawhide staring Clint Eastwood.

In 1970, her father retired and moved the family to Klamath Falls, OR. where Debra completed her senior year of high school at Klamath Union. The following year, she started attending Southern Oregon College (SOC) now known as Southern Oregon University, majoring in Music. She sang in many school concerts and plays and became Head Resident of the SOC dormitory (“Diamond Hall”), the dormitory for music major students. Changing her focus in her junior year, she completed her degree with a Psychology major and a minor in Music. In 1974, she married David McFadden of

Medford, Oregon.

After completing her degree, Debra became the Southern Oregon representative for the Oregon Lung Association. She worked to bring public awareness to the importance of clean air and health including conducting many activities to help children suffering from chronic asthma and other lung ailments. In 1979 Debra gave birth to their son, Peter McFadden. Debra worked several years for the Western Oregon Health Planning Agency, a quasi-governmental agency charged with recommending and implementing improvements to local hospitals and health care facilities in four southern Oregon counties.

As the Executive Director of the Medical Society of Jackson County, for over 25 years she worked with and for the 280 local physicians. This included assisting physicians starting their practices, coordinating political and social activities for physician members and their families and as a liaison between the local hospitals and physicians concerning health topics and programs. She was active in the production of the television health show, Adventures in Medicine, sponsored and shown on KOBI. She met with and was in contact with Oregon’s Local, State and Federal Legislators at all levels concerning medical laws, and coordinated local Emergency Physician Preparedness with Homeland Security. She was appointed to the first Jackson County Air Quality Commission by Jackson County Commissioners, the State of Oregon Public Health Advisory Board by Governor Victor Atiyeh, the Maternal Child Health Committee and the Oregon State Tort Reform Committee. She was named Outstanding Member of the Month by the Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in July 1986, and served as the president of the SOU Alumni Association from 1991-1993 She also served as School Board Chairperson at St. Mary’s High School, in Medford for two years.

Debra, a talented soprano, was a member of the Rogue Valley Chorale. She performed locally, as well as traveling and performing with the Chorale in Sweden, Norway, Northern Italy and at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Debra and David also spent many summers performing at the Lake Chelan, WA, Summer Classical Music Festival and traveled with a group of Oregon Episcopalians to sing in the National Cathedral and other churches in the Washington DC area. They also enjoyed traveling to Washington DC, the Hawaiian Islands, the State of Alaska and along the west coast of Mexico. Debra attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Medford where she was active for many years serving on the Vestry and as Senior Warden, singing in the Choir, and as a Parish Representative from St. Marks to the Episcopal Diocese of Western Oregon’s annual conventions, as well as serving on various committees for the Diocese.

Debra past away April 16 th , 2023. A memorial service will be held on June 16th at 1:00pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 140 N Oakdale, Medford All are welcome to attend.

It is recommended that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to either St. Mark’s, the Rogue Valley Chorale, the SOU Foundation, the Asante Foundation, or Hidden Heaven Senior Care Home. The family would like to commend the staff at Asante Rogue Medical Center, the Asante Hospice Department and the Hidden Heaven Senior Care Facility for their generous and excellent patient care over the past few months.