To the delight of all, Debbi had a strong will at a young age. That strong will followed her always, and was rarely challenged by others.
The family moved to Houston, Texas in 1968. Debbi attended Westbury High School, where she was on the drill team, swim team, drumline, served as class president, and was on the honor roll. She graduated with honors in 1971.
Debbi’s academic achievements were recognized with scholarships that landed her at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting, graduating with honors. In 2025, Debbi earned her Alumni by Choice degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, following her son’s footsteps in “forever flinging the green and gold afar, as long as stars shall shine.”
In 1975, Debbi went to visit her older sister who had married in Houston and moved to South Africa. While there, she met and married the love of her life, Christo duPlooy. They were married in 1976 and both sisters and families moved back to Houston in 1986.
Christo and Debbi had one child, their son, Pieter Christiaan duPlooy, in 1986.
Debbi was welcomed to Heaven by her soulmate Christo, who has been waiting for her since his passing in 2018, and her heart is whole once more. She is survived by her two sisters and their spouses, Vicki and Marius Fourie of Temple, Texas and Teri and David Lallier of Bastrop, Texas, her two brothers and their spouses, Donald and Debbie Johnson of Trinity, Texas and Richard and Sharon Johnson of Magnolia, Texas. She is survived by her only son, Pieter, who will be surrounded with love and protection forevermore.
Until we meet again, we will have Debbi in our hearts, prayers, and memories.
A celebration of life for Debbi will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM at First Methodist Church of Temple, 102 N. 2nd St, Temple, TX 76501.
