Deborah Morris

Debbie met Marty Morris, the love of her life, as a senior at Kilgore High School in 1974. They married one week after she graduated and were married nearly 52 years.

Debbie was a stay-at-home mom before her daughters Emily and Anna started school. Once they entered elementary school, she graduated from Kilgore College and The University of Texas at Tyler with a degree in elementary education.

Debbie taught third grade at Chandler Elementary in Kilgore for many years before pursuing her master’s degree as an educational diagnostician.

In 2003, Debbie and Marty moved from Kilgore to Nacogdoches to be closer to family. Debbie taught for one year at Carpenter Elementary before completing her master’s, then went on to work as a diagnostician at the Angelina County Co-Op, Huntington ISD, the Nacogdoches County Co-Op, and Nacogdoches ISD before retiring from NISD in 2020 with more than 30 years in public education.

Debbie cared deeply for students receiving special education services, and she worked tirelessly for the students and families she served.

Debbie was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church and a Women’s Bible Study that met weekly. Her faith in God and her church were the two things that guided everything else in her life, and she passed that faith down to her children and grandchildren.

Debbie played piano beautifully, and she often played for Sunday Bible Study at The Arbor during the last few months of her life. She could read any sheet music put in front of her, and she could also play by ear. She could play any song by request.

Debbie loved gardening, reading, decorating her home, cooking, and spending time with her family. Her Nacogdoches grandchildren spent the night with her every Friday night of their childhood, forming a deep and special bond over dinners at NacBurger and games of Scrabble, Monopoly, and Poker. Debbie loved shopping, and she spoiled her daughters and granddaughters with surprises on a regular basis.

She hosted every family gathering, and her hospitality was unsurpassed.

Debbie was a supportive spouse, mother, grandmother and friend. She was always there in someone’s time of need.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dan Minor. She is survived by her husband Marty Morris of Nacogdoches; brother Dennis Minor of Kilgore; children Emily (Dan) Taravella of Nacogdoches, and grandchildren Erin Taravella of Austin, and David Taravella of College Station; daughter Anna Morris of Houston, and grandchildren Will and Laura Andrews of Houston; niece Millie (Danny) Minor-Gibson of Roeland Park, Kansas; nephew Matthew (Erica) Minor of Chandler; and special cousin Carrie Williams of Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be 5-7 pm Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Cason Monk Metcalf Funeral Directors. A graveside service will be held at 10 am Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Heart to Heart Hospice or Calvary Baptist Church.

Special thanks is extended to the staff at The Arbor and Heart to Heart Hospice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.