Dannon Ettinger Barrett Forbes, also affectionally known as Deb and Dani to her family and friends, passed away peacefully in her sleep Feb. 26, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. She was born July 3, 1958, in Vicksburg and enjoyed a full childhood both there and in Memphis, Tenn.

As a young adult, she enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she served as a mechanic, working on the Titan II ICBM missiles at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. After retiring from the service, she went on to travel and move around the southern United States, living a full life with her family. She landed in Tempe, Ariz., in a loving community with her sweet little dog, YsaBeaux. Dani lived her best years in Arizona and at the time of her untimely passing had amassed a beautiful collection of sweet friends and coworkers who will dearly miss her.

Most important to note, her family would like to pay tribute to the almost 15 years of recovery Deb worked hard to achieve. She wholeheartedly committed herself to her recovery and to that of others as well, believing fully in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. She spent many years as an advocate and speaker for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The entirety of her vast family could not have been prouder of her years of recovery work. Dani (Deb) will be affectionately remembered as a sparkling free spirit with an enormous number of interests and an even larger love of learning. 

She is survived by a daughter, Andi Clark, Andi’s husband Brett and three grandchildren, Anna, Jonathan and Noah, who live in North Carolina. Blessed and loved fully by two sets of parents; Deb is survived on one side by her father, Newell Rogers Murphy Jr., and on the other by her stepmother, Theresa Westbrook Ettinger. As the oldest in her two families, she is also survived by several brothers and sisters, George Scott Murphy (Jody), Laura Ettinger-Harwell, Charles Walker Ettinger, Arthur Andrew Ettinger, Newell Rogers Murphy III and Carr Murphy Brown. Additionally, she leaves behind 10 nieces and nephews.

Deb is preceded in death by two children, Helen Meghan Hughes and Benjamin Richard Leonard, both of Raleigh, N.C. Also, by two parents: Althea Anne Murphy of Vicksburg and George Sylvester Ettinger of Memphis, Tenn. Lastly, by her brother, George Smith Ettinger of Memphis, Tenn.

Taking into consideration the current state of affairs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Celebration of Life will be decided upon at a later date as we seek to protect those in our families who are vulnerable. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).