Debra Jo Edwards-Reynolds

Debra Jo Edwards-Reynolds, 73, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and wife who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Debra was born in Texas and, at the age of 23, made her way to California, where she began building a life filled with adventure, family, hard work, and more than a few stories to tell. Throughout her life, she worked as a cocktail waitress, a postal service worker, and eventually in government employment, where she worked until around the age of 42.

But Debra was never one to stay in one place for too long.

In 1979, she and her husband, Gus Reynolds, moved to Alaska to begin a new chapter and get married. Their time in Alaska lasted about a year—until one day Debra was cleaning and discovered a fox head in the closet. That was the last straw. Alaska was no longer for her, and it was back to California. In true Debra fashion, she hadn't even told the family she was moving to Alaska in the first place. She simply packed up and went.

After retiring from work around age 42, Debra continued to enjoy traveling and moving around, always following her own path. She spent time visiting family, including a month in Germany with her daughter, Elizabeth, before eventually returning to Texas to be closer to her family.

Family was at the center of Debra's life. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren fiercely and always did whatever she could for the people she loved. She was known for cracking jokes, speaking her mind, and having a feisty spirit that stayed with her throughout her life.

One of the most meaningful chapters of Debra's later years was reconnecting with her son, Judson. Judson had been adopted at birth, and for many years the circumstances surrounding his adoption were kept a secret. Nearly decades later, DNA testing and genealogy websites helped bring the family back together. Debra was grateful to finally meet her son and happy that their paths had found their way back to one another. What began as a long-kept secret ultimately became a new connection and an expanded family that brought joy to her life.

In 2019, Debra suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and greatly limited her mobility. But even as her body became less able to do the things she once enjoyed, her spirit remained unmistakably Debra. For the next seven years, she continued to be her strong-willed, funny, and feisty self.

Debra is survived by her children, Elizabeth Ann Johnson and Judson Philipps; her grandchildren, Cameron Johnson, Austin Johnson, Cicillia Philipps, and Gabriela Philipps; and her great-grandchildren, Matthew Johnson and Cora Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gus Reynolds; her mother, Evelyn Joyce Jones; and her sister, Patsy Shearer.

Debra lived her life her own way. She moved when she wanted to move, traveled when she wanted to travel, made people laugh when they needed it most, and loved her family in the best way she knew how. She leaves behind a lifetime of stories, laughter, memories, and a family who will carry her spirit forward.

She will be missed more than words can say—and knowing Debra, she probably has the last joke waiting for us somewhere.