Debra Ann (O'Neal) Howard

     Our mom was an amazing mother, wife, Gigi and child of God. She stepped on the streets of gold March 10th, 2021 at 3:24am. She is now in the presence of our loving God, seeing him face to face. No pain, no crying, and no weakness, just a celebration beyond imagination.

     She joyfully entered this world on November 27, 1963 in Thomas, OK to Bud and Judy O’neal. They loved and raised her into an amazing woman of God . She went to grade school in Wichita, KS before moving to Darrouzett, TX, where she spent her Junior High and High school years, graduating a Darrouzett Longhorn in 1982.

     To all those who knew our mom she was a woman of many things. She wore every hat you can imagine from a talented painter, loving mother, and the woman to keep my dad in line (we all know he needs that). She met our dad the summer of 1981 and she thought it was nothing more than a summer fling. Over time Dad started asking himself if she was the one. After praying and asking the Lord if she was the one, Dad drove 90 miles on a Thursday to propose without asking our grandpa first, mom said NO. She ran back in the house crying and dad drove back to college crying like one of his 2 year old grand children. The next morning grandpa called my dad asking “do you love her?” Dad said yes, and grandpa replied, “don’t do anything stupid till I get back from Alabama” they continued dating and finally tied the knot on August 14th, 1982. This started a grand love story that has spanned almost 40 years.  We just hope that our own marriages can be as loving and lasting as theirs.  During their 38 years of marriage they welcomed 3 children into the world although she regularly threatened to take us out of this world as fast as she put us in it. Despite our crazy antics, she managed to raise 3 okay kids who then blessed her with 7 grandchildren. She always has said her grandchildren where the sparkles in her life.  If there is one thing you could say about our mother she loved the Lord with all of heart. We know a lot people say that but she lived it with her actions, her words, and her love. If she wasn’t taking care of us at home she was at church, building elaborate VBS scenery, leading kingdom kids, or taking a group of youth or preteens to church camp or Schlitterbahn. When she wasn’t doing the Lords work at church she was in her garden making the world a more beautiful place tending over God’s creation and creatures. And we mean many between her cats, chickens, ducks, goats, parakeets, dove, and who could forget Red Dog.

     She loved to paint and would paint the most beautiful pictures. Her grandson mentioned while confronting his mom that Jesus told him she had a job to paint heaven when she got there. We can all rest assured in one thing that he is right, and she is painting heaven in glory with the Lord.

     She was proceeded in death by her infant brother Ricky O’neal.

     Debbie is survived by her mother and father,  Bud and Judy O’Neal of Eagle City, OK.; brother, Robert O’Neal of Round Rock, TX. Her loving husband, Larry Howard of Seymour, TX.; her children Lindsey May and husband Mike of Venus, TX , Ashley Ridenour and husband Kevin of Archer City , TX, and Reed Howard and wife Stephanie of Seaside, CA. Her grand children Barrett and Abigale May, Zerah and Landri Ridenour, Carter McNeal, Nolan and Stevie Howard.

     A Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church with Dr. David Warren officiating, under the direction of Archer Funeral Home.

     The family suggest flowers or a memorial contribution to the Debbie Howard church camp scholarship fund at FBC Seymour.

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