Deanna Russell

Deanna worked as a server for Harris Ranch for over 20 years. She always considered Harris Ranch as her second family and loved them dearly. It was said that Deanna ruled the roost at the restaurant due to her tenure. If Deanna wanted something done a certain way she always found a way to do it. Deanna retired back in 2012 to join her daughter in a new business venture but in fact it was to spend as much time as she could with her granddaughter Addyson and her family, which was her true passion.

Deanna was born in Madera, Ca. on February 8, 1961, to her loving parents Jack & Lorraine Irby. She had 2 siblings, Randy Irby and Terri Perry.

Deanna raised her family on a Horse Farm in Coalinga, Ca with her husband of 22 years Per Antonsen, who owned and trained race horses. Many of the family vacations were made each year visiting Del Mar, where the mornings were for the beach and the afternoons were for going to the horse races. They had 3 wonderful children together; Michael, Brandon and Courtney. Through the years Deanna took extra special care to her oldest son Michael as he was diagnosed with diabetes at age 2. She wouldn’t let anyone take care of him because she knew that he would be in the best care with her. With that being said, Michael was always by Deanna’s side until he was a young adult … Deanna supported Michael’s love of junior golf and spent many weekends traveling to the golf courses as he competed. With her son Brandon, Deanna had a hard time getting him away from that dirt road. He never wanted to leave the farm, or the dirt, as his love for animals, fishing, hunting, and buying $100 Junker cars was all he needed to keep him busy. Then came her daughter Courtney, the girl she was determined to have. Courtney’s passion was for her horses where she competed in horse shows and Deanna supported her every step of the way. Deanna loved her children to the moon and back and would have supported almost anything they wanted to do.

In 2004, Deanna moved to Clovis Ca were she started a new chapter in her life and married her husband Mike Russell. Together they proudly shared and loved 8 children and 11 grandchildren. Mike and Deanna made many great memories and loved spending time with the family. They enjoyed riding Mike’s Harley together. In fact there was a trip they went on where they were heading up the I-80 and it starting snowing it was 30 degree weather and Mike kinda thought they should wait until the weather got a little better but not Deanna, she said let’s move on, we are dressed for cold weather we can make it… Sure enough they did. Little did she know Mike had been clinching his hands so hard on the handle bars that it took some time to stretch back out.. Deanna also enjoyed camping, RV’ing, and fishing. However Deanna’s love for fishing included casting the fishing pole and reeling in the fish. Mike had to bait her hook along with taking the fish off the pole. Deanna even caught a 3 ½ pound fish at Millerton Lake that was published in the Fresno Bee. But guess who was holding the fish……. (Mike) However Deanna loved nothing more than spending time with their kids and grandkids.

Deanna is survived by her husband, Mike Russell of Clovis; Her children, Michael Antonsen and his wife Jennifer of Fresno (grandchildren Jack, Kate, Charlotte, Matthew), Brandon Antonsen of Madera, Courtney Gharibeh and husband Eddie of Clovis (granddaughter Addyson); brother Randy Irby and his wife Fran of Clovis, Sister Terri Perry of Chowchilla.