Debra Sue Counts VanHoor–el–beke died June 16, 2005. She was 46.

Counts was born Jan. 5, 1959, in Craig, to Wesley and Beverly Counts.

VanHoorelbeke attended elementary school in Dinosaur and Rangely, Picayune, Miss., Meeker and Craig. She graduated from Moffat County High School in 1977 and attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where she received her BA in Elementary Education in 1981. She was employed in the human services field in the Craig area, Greeley area, and Denver area until she wed Daniel VanHoorelbeke in 1992, and they settled in Parachute.

VanHoorelbeke was formerly a youth counselor and then director of the Moffat County Youth Care Center in Craig. She most recently was a youth and family counselor for YouthZone in Rifle for the last several years. She was well respected by staff, clients and parents for her amazing ability to counsel youth and assist families in reaching their full potential. She was a devoted Christian and was baptized into Christ on April 19, 1977.

VanHoorelbeke is survived by her husband, Daniel VanHoorelbeke; parents, Wesley and Beverly Counts; grandmother, Edith Ottens; sisters, Rhonda (Joe) Willingham and Linda (Steve) Duncan; brother, Wayne (Jill) Counts; nieces Jessica Willingham, Kathrine Cork, Taylor Dean and Natalie Duncan; nephews Wesley Counts, Joseph Duncan, and Braden Duncan; and numerous aunts, uncles, and friends who loved and appreciated her quick wit and humor throughout her life and in spite of her lengthy cancer battle.

VanHoorelbeke was preceded in death by her parental grandparents, Robert T. and Lula M. Counts, and her maternal grandfather, J. Albert Ottens.

Services are at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2005, at the First Christian Church in Craig. Her ashes will be interred in the Craig Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Debbie’s memory to the Moffat County Cancer Society, in care of Grant Mortuary.