Deborah Elizabeth Insell Slagle

She leaves her husband Rick Slagle of 30 years. She also leaves her two children Chad Slagle and Emily Higgins and her mother Martha Insell and her late father Jerald Insell. She leaves two brothers, Jay and Alan and two sisters Jean Thomas and Arlene Crowe.

Deborah cared for numerous foster children and she and Rick adopted two as their own. She had a great love for children and young people and loved her husband dearly. These were the center of her life. She worked at Teenage Christian Camp during the summers since she was a teenager herself.

She was originally from Murfreesboro but her family moved to Knoxville when she was three years old. She worked at Y-12 where she met Rick her husband to be and they decided she would leave Y-12 to allow her to serve as an unpaid Social Worker using their home after they were married. Two of the children were eventually adopted.

Other children were considered family by the Slagle’s. She also leaves five grandchildren: Jocelyn, Nathaniel, Aaron, Kylee, Grayson, and twenty-one nieces and nephews .

She was a devoted member of the Karns Church of Christ where she taught many children’s classes and worked with the youth group with her husband.

She had a tremendous influence on many lives and will be dearly missed. Family will receive friends 4:00-7:00 pm Friday at Karns Church of Christ with service to follow at 7:00 pm. Phillip Nicholas officiating. Family and friends will meet 8:45 am Saturday at Karns Church of Christ to proceed to Oak Ridge Memorial Park for a 10:00 am interment. Condolences may be made on our website weaverfuneralservices.com. Arrangements by Weaver Funeral Home.