Deborah M. Nakis

Deborah Maude Nakis, “Debbie”, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday September 18, 2017 at Port Healthcare in Newburyport Massachusetts at age 87.  She was born in Beverly Massachusetts on New Year’s Day, January 1 1930.  She was the only daughter of Albert Preston and Elizabeth Tilson Preston (later Motz) of Beverly.  Raised in Beverly, she graduated from Beverly High in 1948.  Debbie then went on to attend the Beverly School of Nursing before meeting her future love & husband William C. Nakis of Gloucester.  Debbie and Bill were married on February 1, 1952 and remained married for 47 years until Bill passed in 1999.  They made their home in Rowley Massachusetts beginning in 1958.  Together they raised three children there.  After Bill’s passing Debbie moved to the Rowley Plantation elderly housing complex and had been a resident at Port Healthcare for the past five years.  She lived in Rowley for 54 years of her life.

During her life, in addition to raising her family, Debbie worked as a secretary for the Rowley Public Schools, as a free-lance journalist writing for the Newburyport Daily News, Lawrence Eagle Tribune, and other local papers, and eventually went into her first love, nursing.  She went back to school at age 48 and finalized her Licensed Practical Nurse credentials at the Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute in Middleton.  She went on to provide convalescent care to many residents of various nursing homes in the area.  Several of Deb’s caregivers at Port Healthcare had worked with her during that time.  Debbie was also very proud of having been instrumental in the establishment of The Plantation housing complex in the 1970’s.

Debbie believed strongly in her Lord Jesus Christ.  She was a long time member of the Rowley Baptist Church and the Georgetown Baptist Church.  She loved flowering plants, old Broadway and Yanni music, and food of all types especially anything with lobster!  She was well known for her quick and sardonic wit.  She loved her family greatly.

Debbie is survived by her daughter Anne Nakis of Turners Falls Mass., her oldest son Arty Nakis (wife Elinor) of Sedro-Woolley Washington, granddaughter Alysan Nakis (Ryan Ledbetter) of Fort Walton Beach Florida, grandson Nic Nakis (Chelly) of Sedro-Woolley Washington, cherished niece Dianne Bragdon of Rowley, and three great-grandsons, Javan Nakis, Leo Ledbetter, and Nathan M. Nakis.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Nakis, brother Albert Preston Jr., son John Nakis, and grandson Nathan W. Nakis.

In lieu of flowers and cards, please remember Debbie with a donation to Fidelis Hospice Foundation, 25 Railroad Square Suite 501, Haverhill MA.  The family would like to express its deep gratitude to the staff of Port Healthcare and Fidelis Hospice for their wonderful care.  A private celebration of life will be held on Friday September 29 in Rowley, please contact the family at 360-708-0278 for details.