TRAVERSE CITY — Deborah "Deb" DeFer, 54, of Traverse City, passed away Feb. 17, 2011, at Munson Medical Center. Deb was born on Dec. 4, 1956, in Ypsilanti, to William and Marilyn (Miley) Teter. After growing up in Garden City, Deb moved with her family to the Traverse City area and has resided here since the 1970s. Deb was employed by Dean Transportation at TBAISD as a bus attendant. She loved helping special needs children, and they loved her in return. She was a very caring individual and will be deeply missed. In her spare time she enjoyed bike riding, riding horses, going to the beach and playing with her six cats and two dogs. She is survived by her two children, Matthew (Heather) DeFer and Tyler DeFer; parents, William and Marilyn Teter; sister, Denise Broderick; brother, William (Leonila) Teter; significant other, Denny Weber; nephew, Thomas (Dana) Broderick; niece, Natasha (Chris) Brown; nephews, William Teter Jr. and Nicholas Teter; six great-nieces and nephews; and many other loving family members and friends. Visitation for Deb will be held on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Oakwood Cemetery following the service. Memorial contributions in Deb's honor may be directed to the Cherryland Humane Society. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your thoughts and condolences with the family. The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.