Miller, Deborah Tate "Debbie" Deborah Tate Miller, Phoenix, AZ, passed away peacefully on her 59th birthday on Wednesday, Oct. 19 after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. Debbie was born on October 19, 1957 in Berwyn, IL, and was the oldest of three sisters. The family lived in Illinois, Nevada and New York before moving to Tucson, Arizona in 1969. Debbie graduated from Santa Rita High School in 1975 as a valedictorian of her senior class. She attended the University of Arizona where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering in 1979. Debbie began her career in the commercial aerospace industry as one of the first female engineers hired by the (then) Flight Management Division of Sperry Corp., which was soon to be acquired by Honeywell Corp. Debbie spent 26 years at Honeywell working in various capacities and rose to the position of Engineering Section Head. In 2005, Debbie joined ACSS, an L-3 Communications Company, and spent eight years working in the area of Quality Assurance. Debbie was passionate and meticulous, and received numerous awards for her many accomplishments during her long career. Debbie was compassionate and loving and had a core group of lifelong friends which she cherished. Debbie enjoyed boating, hiking, snow skiing, golf, sunsets and Cardinals football. She loved scrapbooking and playing cards with her dear friends. She also enjoyed travel, especially the many trips the family took to Rocky Point, Mexico. Debbie is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband Steve, her son Jeffrey, her parents James and Deloris Tate, and her sisters Sandra McMillian and Jennifer Tate. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held for Debbie on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ 12861 N. 8th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85029. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the and/or .