Debbie Jean (House) McGraw

Debra Jean (House) McGraw was born March 3, 1959 to Jacob and Pheobe House, in Towanda, Pennsylvania. December 31, 2024 Debbie peacefully passed into Glory in her Saviour’s arms. Debbie is survived in death by her husband of 47 years, Joel McGraw; Sarah (McGraw) Jones, husband Daniel and their children Ava, Naomi, Jesse, Oliver and Henry; Rebecca (McGraw) Warren, husband Israel and their children Jubal, Kezia and Nathan; Hannah (McGraw) Fortune, husband Rusty and their children Charity, Samuel and Catherine; Joshua McGraw, wife Miranda and child Caledonia; Abigail McGraw; Bethany (McGraw) Hale and husband Job.

When Debbie was 9, her family moved to Sebring, Florida, where she eventually met her high school sweetheart, Joel, at the Sebring High School. They married October 1, 1977, and stayed in the Sebring/Lake Wales area where Joel worked for the Gulf Oil Company and Debbie worked for McDonalds as a manager until the birth of her first child. From that point on, Debbie was a stay-at-home mom; choosing to also homeschool her 6 children all the way through high school.

1989 was the year that Debbie realized her need for a Saviour and placed her faith and trust in Christ Jesus on Wednesday April 19. She learned that she alone would never be “good enough”. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 Realizing that the gift was free, if she just accepted it by faith, Debbie took this promise found in Romans 10:13 to heart, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In 1994, the family moved to Crestview, Fla, so Joel could be the pastor of Crestview Ind. Bap. Church. Debbie faithfully served the Lord beside her husband for 29yrs before the church was turned over to a younger family. It was in Crestview that the cabooses, as Debbie called the twins, were born.

To meet Debbie was to know she was a true friend, prayer warrior, strong, a faithful supportive wife, a present invested mother. Her life revolved around gratitude, enjoying simple pleasures, and seeking to grow in her relationship with Christ.

Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Because of my sweet Bonnie Jean, I met the Lord in salvation; because of her I was blessed with six loving children; because of her I stayed as pastor in the same church for twenty nine years; because of her I have been spiritually strengthened time and time again! Much more could be said, but though her youth faded and her physical strength was depleted, she grew stronger and fairer in her sweet Saviour! ~ Her loving husband, Joel

Mama knew how to stretch meals and use up any little scrap of leftovers. “Clean out the Fridge” stew was sometimes delicious and other times, interesting! An abundance of bread would result in “wet bread” casseroles as the kids called them. These were times that the older girls begged the neighbor lady to “invite” them for supper, PLEASE! Sometimes there was even mystery meat meals, meat that was thrown in the freezer unlabeled. Or surprise chocolate chip cookies, the surprise being that there were no chocolate chips! The lessons in thriftiness and frugality live on in the lives and memories of her children. ~ Sarah.

Memories abound of yearly trips to Canaan Land in North Carolina where we hiked, caught fireflies, fished, ate picnic lunches and took time to make memories. Days spent picking and processing peas, corn, zucchini, greens and other produce that church members graciously shared with us. Nights spent listening to her read out loud to us before bedtime. Mama knew how to make things fun and an adventure, even if the “adventure” actually was something unexpected, like a flat tire. I remember Picnics in hay fields, even doing school work in the hay field, while Daddy helped our song leader from church get the hay cut and baled. The day the dead chicken squawked at her still brings gales of laughter. Mama had nerves of steel as she was the primary Driver’s Ed teacher for us kids. Thanksgiving was always a special time for Mama because it reminded us to be thankful for all the blessings in our lives. Mama taught us that gratitude was the key to a happy and fulfilled life. In addition to her lessons on gratitude, Mama also instilled in us the importance of kindness and restraint. She taught us that if we had nothing nice to say, it was better to remain silent. She even went as far as to advise us to bite our tongues, quite literally, if we still had the urge to speak. This lesson in self-control has stayed with me throughout my life. Looking back on these memories, I am filled with gratitude for the lessons Mama taught us and the joy she brought into our lives. She truly knew how to make the most of every moment, turning simple tasks into adventures and reminding us of the power of a happy heart and a personal relationship with Christ. ~ Rebecca

Mama always did have a heart for the underdog and those unable to help themselves. She instilled a passion to give beyond ourselves through setting the example of donating blood, working the polls for elections, helping our neighbors out, and “loving in action” the less fortunate we came in contact with. We spent hours shopping for the free pantry the church had for those unable to buy groceries in the community. We decorated her polling place in red, white and blue. We told cops, firefighters and EMTs “thank you” for serving the community. We took water and snacks to the mailmen, linemen, road crews, and stopped to pray with people in the grocery. When we heard sirens, we stopped and prayed for the emergency crews and the folks needing the help. Love in action is the greatest thing my mom instilled in me, and it started at home with her compassion and empathy for her children and husband. Mama prayed with many tears for her family, and others, and we knew that her lap was always open, and her arms ready to hug us tight when we needed it most. These virtues have guided my decisions to be involved in my community tremendously. Her example of sacrificial love and action has compelled me to take steps of faith far beyond my comfort zones. ~ Hannah

Despite Mama waking up early and me having late hours, she was often sitting up praying for me when I walked in the door. I am forever grateful for her love and support. ~ Joshua

My favorite memories of Mama are when she would read stories to Bean and I, or tell all of us stories from her childhood. The story of the goose attacking her, the mouse that ran up the broom at Canaan Land, her hearing the panther walking on the gravel outside of the cabin…the list goes on. Those were always special times that I will treasure. ~ Abigail

I remember Mommie would come in at bedtime and pray with Abi and I. She did it almost every night for several years until we got older. Even then, I would request it every once in a while. Another memory that just popped up was how she would communicate with Abi and I using walkie talkies when we were in a store grocery shopping and she was waiting out in the van. Our call signs were Mama Bear, Princess and Chatterbox. Always she made things fun for us kids. Sharing a can of soda and a meal from McDonald’s’ dollar menu…taking us to community events…. A big part of my “everything is an adventure” spirit is from Mommie (and our shared love of reading!) Even though her mobility was limited by the time I was a preteen, she made sure we had opportunities to enjoy life and she was willing to put her own comfort aside to allow us those opportunities. She never lived anything in front of me but the life of a lover of Jesus and there’s nothing more priceless I could have seen from my mother. The things I’ve learned from her are endless and I’m not done learning. ~ Bethany

Debbie’s life verses are Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

2 Timothy 3:14 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

Arrangements entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home. www.edomillerandsons.com