Deborah "Debbie" Ann Tarplee

Debbie Scruggs Tarplee, 72, of Grantsboro, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023, at ECU Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Noe-Brooks Funeral Home of Morehead City with Rev. Dr. Len Keever officiating. A private burial will take place at Braswell Family Cemetery in Elm City.

Debbie spent much of her childhood in Morehead City where she attended elementary and Jr. high school and had many good memories and friends from that time in her life. She then attended high school in Burlington and as a teenager she worked in her grandparent's florist, which encouraged her love for style, flowers design, and crafts. Following high school, she was very proud of attending North Carolina State University and completing a BA degree in three years. After a short stint in upstate New York with her husband, a job change brought her back to Raleigh. She soon expanded her crafting and won awards at the state fair for various items and designs. Hudson Belk wanted her to supply her handmade pocketbooks, but she declined the offer in favor of time with her young family. As her children grew, she got very involved with PTA and the Wake County Cultural Arts program, including bringing national programs to Wake County. She also was a Cub Scout leader and led the scouts on adventures such as climbing a firetower and a visit with a news helicopter. She also enjoyed fishing and camping, particularly at the coast.

In 1984 she and her husband purchased the assets of a small marine dealership in Jacksonville. She took care of the accounting as well as much of the purchasing and became an exceptionally good parts person. As the dealership grew and moved to a higher traffic location, she started The Ships Wheel gift shop which offered nautically themed items selling through Tideline Marine and on Amazon. Selling the marine business in 2019, she moved to her new house in Pamlico County on Beard Creek. As crafting has been her lifelong passion, she had a building built expressly for that purpose (DEB’S "SHE SHED"). She was really getting started and was able to spend some happy time there before the cancer appeared and started slowing her down.

Her children and grandchildren and all their trials, tribulations and accomplishments have been foremost in her life, and we are sure she is watching over us providing love and guidance from above.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Bill Tarplee of Grantsboro; three sons, Bill Tarplee III and wife, Rebekah of Autryville, NC; Brad Tarplee of Gransboro; Adam Tarplee and wife, Lisa of Highland Village, TX; five grandchildren, Madison, Anna, Andrew, Matthew, and Bill IV; brother, Gary Scruggs and wife, Sue of Merrit Island, FL; and sister, Pam Lindberg of Center Barnstead, NH.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.bcrf.org

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC.