Deborra D. Backlund

Deborra Lynn Backlund lost her 9 ½ year struggle with breast cancer Thursday, December 17, 2020. She fought it as she lived life with grace, faith, fortitude, love and humor. Debbie loved greatly and forgave easily. She never held a grudge. She opened her heart and home to all of us that she loved. Anyone that met her knew that she was special. She loved her family deeply and loved to regale her friends with stories about them. She embraced her friends and made them feel like family.

Debbie was born May 9, 1953 in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the youngest of two children born to Mickey and Charles Davis. She is survived by her older brother, Chuck, whom she adored and frequently told stories about. Because her father was in the military, the family moved many times and Debbie could tell you every address. While attending Southwest Texas State, she met her future husband, Mike, through Parkhills Baptist Church in San Antonio where they both sang in the choir. After four years of dating, they married June 1, 1974 and began their family having 2 children, David and Laura. Debbie taught elementary school for 34 years, first at Lockhill Elementary and then at Dellview Elementary. She kept in touch via Facebook with many of her former students. After retiring from teaching, she followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a real estate agent. She had a brief but fulfilling second career with D’Ann Harper Coldwell Banker Realtors, and particularly enjoyed helping young families find their first home.

Her faith was a vital part of her life and she served her God through ministries at Parkhills Baptist Church and later Shearer Hills Baptist Church. Debbie and Mike sang in the choir for many years and taught several different Sunday School classes. Debbie became involved in mission work which led to many trips both stateside to help others, and to Serbia, Moldova and Haiti to reach out to the hurting children of the world. After several trips to Moldova, Debbie and Mike opened their home to Eugen Balan, who remains as close as family. After retiring from teaching, Debbie was able to take part in a prayer group that met weekly praying for their children and their children’s schools.

Church was not her only interest. She also loved playing Majong, an interest she developed because her mother had played for years. Debbie and Mike went to every sporting event their children participated in; then years later they followed their grandchildren’s sporting activities as best they could. She and Mike had a faithful group of friends they lovingly called the “6 pack” that they shared meals with every Friday night and many Sunday nights for over 30 years. The 6 pack travelled the world together for both mission trips and vacations, making memories and growing as close as family.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 46 years, Mike Backlund; their son, David Backlund and his wife Amber; their daughter Laura Longmire and her husband Justin, and her brother Charles Davis and his wife Barbara. Debbie was blessed with 7 grandsons, Jake, Jackson, Cy, Charlie, William, Matthew and Brady plus 1 granddaughter Sydney. She adored her grandchildren and loved every moment spent with them.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 11:00 am at Shearer Hills Baptist Church, preceded by a family visitation time at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Children’s Emergency Relief International, the organization that Debbie worked with during her mission trips to Moldova. They can be found at https://cerikids.org