Elizabeth “Debbie” Dexter 1948-2026
By Malibu Times · Thu May 28 2026
Elizabeth “Debbie” Dexter was born on April 16, 1948, in Burbank, California. She was raised in Hidden Hills by her parents, Joseph and Mary Ella Carnahan, alongside her siblings Cristie, Carney, John, and Tom. From her father, she inherited positivity, discipline, and a love of the outdoors; from her mother, creativity, organization, and a deep devotion to family. Debbie learned to sew, garden, create stained glass art, and add beauty wherever she lived. Her childhood was filled with horses, orchards, family trips, hard work, and lifelong friendships. After the passing of their parents, the five Carnahan siblings made a promise to continue traveling together, taking turns planning annual “sibs trips” for more than a decade.
Debbie’s adventurous spirit emerged early. At 19, she backpacked through Europe alone and later traveled the world through Semester at Sea. Her greatest adventure began when she met Mike Dexter. They were married on March 13, 1971, in a simple, beautiful ceremony at the Self-Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades, beginning an extraordinary 55- year partnership grounded in friendship, laughter, and enduring love. Following their wedding, Debbie and Mike set off on a cross-country honeymoon in a VW camper, later continuing their adventures across Europe. Over the years, they visited the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the South Pacific many times, embracing a shared love of travel and exploration. Early in their marriage, Mike also introduced Debbie to Hawaii, beginning a core family tradition that would last a lifetime.
Together, Mike and Debbie first worked with autistic youth at Camarillo State Hospital before moving to Southern Oregon in 1974 to live close to the land. There, they built a home and welcomed their daughter, Kamala Harmony Dexter, and then their son, Tyson Carnahan Dexter, both in beautiful home births surrounded by family and friends. Their years in Oregon were filled with creativity, nature, and friendships that remained central to Debbie’s life.
In 1984, the family moved to Malibu, where Debbie would live for more than 40 years and become woven into the fabric of the community. She deeply loved the grounded Malibu way of life through the outdoors, Malibu Little League, Junior Lifeguards, the Malibu Triathlon, and countless days at the beach and in her garden.
Debbie devoted more than 20 years to teaching at Serrania Avenue Elementary School in Woodland Hills. She formed lifelong friendships with colleagues and remained connected to many former students for decades. Teaching was an extension of who she was: warm, creative, encouraging, and deeply caring.
Her home and garden in Malibu West became an expression of her soul. Debbie cultivated roses, vegetables, succulents, citrus, avocados, herbs, plumerias, and countless more, instilling this passion in her children as they grew up. She especially loved her Thursday gardening days with Tyson, working side by side in the earth and catching up on life. Debbie also warmly welcomed Tyson’s wife, Shannon, into the family after she and Tyson met at Malibu High School nearly 30 years ago. Shannon became not only a daughter-in-law but a true daughter whose family blended seamlessly into Debbie’s own.
As the years went on, travel remained one of Debbie’s greatest joys. Debbie, Mike, Tyson, Kami, and son-in-law Alex shared many beautiful years together at Hualalai on the Big Island, while Debbie and Kami returned every summer to Hanalei for the past two decades. Debbie and Kami were not only mother and daughter, but soulmates and travel partners. Together they chased an eclipse in North Carolina, explored Napa, Austin, Savannah, Miami, and Careyes, traveled to Hong Kong and Bali with their closest girlfriends, journeyed through Jamaica, Spain, Portugal, Paris, Champagne, Greece, and Italy, and celebrated Debbie’s 70th birthday beneath the cherry blossoms in Japan. Debbie and Mike also loved their many double-date trips with Kami and Alex, including unforgettable travels to South Africa to spend time with Alex’s family.
The last decade of Debbie’s life brought one of her greatest joys: becoming “Mimi” to Jude Patrick Dexter and Cash Kenton Dexter. She was a playful, deeply engaged grandmother who loved eating ice cream, doing puzzles, shooting hoops, throwing footballs, reading books, and showing up for every game and milestone. Jude and Cash were among the brightest lights of her life, and the bond they shared with their Mimi was full of joy and unconditional love.
Mike and Debbie modeled a marriage built on true companionship and love. Whether jogging Zuma Beach in the 1990s, sipping Champagne at sunset, working around the house, or walking their golden retriever Brady through Malibu West, they simply loved being together. In Debbie’s final year, she and Mike were especially grateful for the unexpected gift of having Kami and Alex living with them after losing their home in the Palisades fire. The extra time together became deeply meaningful for the entire family.
Debbie lived a life rooted in family, friendship, adventure, beauty, and deep connection to the natural world. To Kami’s friends, Debbie was a mother, girlfriend, and model. To Tyson’s friends, she was simply “Mom,” a reflection of her extraordinary ability to care for everyone around her. Debbie made people feel accepted, seen, and deeply loved.
Debbie is survived by her husband Mike Kenton Dexter; her daughter Kamala Harmony Dexter Hall and son-in-law Alex; her son Tyson Carnahan Dexter and daughter-in-law Shannon; her cherished grandchildren Jude Patrick Dexter and Cash Kenton Dexter; her siblings Tom, John, and Carney; and an expansive extended family on both the Carnahan and Dexter sides, including beloved brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends who became family. From Hidden Hills to Oregon to Malibu, Serrania to Malibu Mahjongg and Tuesday fitness class, Debbie made genuine connections everywhere she went with her warmth, grace, and love.
Debbie Dexter lived with generosity, creativity, and joy. She leaves behind flourishing gardens, lasting friendships, a deeply devoted family, and a legacy of beauty, compassion, adventure, and love. Her spirit lives on in every wave, hummingbird, and plumeria. May her memory be a blessing.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Malibu West Beach Club on June 6, 2026, at 3:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please pass on a smile to all you see. Debbie would love that
