Debbie Durkee is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)

Debbie Durkee took classes in 2007 to earn the Seniors Real Estate (SRES designation). The SRES classes provided special insight to real estate professional regarding the special circumstances surrounding real estate transactions involving seniors and their families.

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation is for REALTORS® who want to be able to meet the special needs of maturing Americans when selling, buying, relocating, or refinancing residential or investment properties. By earning the SRES® designation, REALTORS® are prepared to approach mature clients with the best options and information for them to make life-changing decisions.

This training as an SRES built on education that Debbie had already received as part of her education to prepare her for ministry.

Debbie Durkee had first worked face-to-face with seniors when she did an internship at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Broken Arrow back in 1995-1996. Under the supervision of the pastor, Rev. Bill Holly, Debbie visited elderly patients at local hospitals in Broken Arrow as part of her duties as an intern. This was to fulfill graduation requirements for the M.Div. program at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU). The following year Debbie took classes in family systems and pastoral care, graduating from SMU in May 1997 cum laude with a Masters in Divinity.

In 2011 Debbie was recruited by Sr. Benet at St. John Medical Center to visit patients in their rooms at the main hospital in midtown Tulsa. She has been a Pastoral Care Volunteer Visitor since then, also participating in the “No One Dies Alone” program instituted by Sr. Julie. As a member of the Ascension St. John Auxiliary, Debbie and other volunteers are temporarily “on leave” since Covid-19 protocol has been implemented (as of in March 16, 2020).

In 2014 Debbie worked part time for 6 months at Hillcrest Medical Center under the direct supervision of Jacob George, providing pastoral care to patients as part of their CPE program, earning one CPE credit (clinical pastoral education).

Most of Debbie’s work with seniors has been through her work as a REALTOR helping seniors to downsize to smaller homes or to go into senior living: independent living, assisted living, and even health care.

Debbie’s training in family systems has helped her to understand the inner workings of families and their complex relationships and alliances. This understanding has helped in working with sibling groups who have inherited property and need to sell. It can get really quite complicated. That is why Debbie works with experienced closers and lawyers to sort out complicated probate and trusts & estate issues.

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