There are no words to describe what Debbie Slankard was to me as a friend in high school and to our class, but I will try.  She challenged me in excellence academically and beat me because she was smarter and more focused but I was a happy second to her achievements.  When she would admonish me with a smile, and laugh at some of my not so smart decisions, I better understood as I got older that she was smarter than our years.  She was a smart, strong, and beautifully independent lady that I always admired.  The strength and support of her family through her battle with cancer is quite the awesome example.  Prayers of peace and comfort to all who knew her.  She leaves a void in so many hearts.....

JACKIE, JAN, AND ALL YOUR FAMILY,

Please know that we are so sad to hear of Debbie's passing.   We hope and we pray that you find peace in the knowledge that she is at peace after her long struggle, that she is with your mom and dad, and that they are having a joyful reunion.  I am fortunate to have memories of Debbie from the time she was a baby.  They are good memories of her,  Mike and Ruth, and both of you.

Thinking of you, Neighbors.


So sorry at your loss of this dauntless, courageous, valorous, joyful woman of God.   I am proud that I knew her through both Ft. Smith teaching and our mutual friend J. Shankle.  Debbie is the steadiest person- always joyful and asking about you, remaining  available to listen.  Others-oriented, that is Debbie.  She has entered her rest with Jesus her great love.
May the Lord comfort you as you grieve the loss of this hardworking, wonderful woman, joyful in tribulation, a role model. .    


Aunt Deb was a great person and an outstanding athlete.  As a young kid I would marvel at all her sports trophies, some as tall as me.  I was her softball team’s bat boy one summer when they won a championship and it was great to see her in action.  But my favorite story of Deb involved fishing.   Deb was known at the time to  be one who could hook the big fish but never land it, the classic fishing tale that you were not sure to believe or not.  So one time after hearing about a near miss at same pond, I hooked a big one and had it up on the bank which was inclined up.  She yelled from across the pond to walk down and pick it up vs dragging it up as that is how she lost hers.  From quite a distance she said that it looked a lot like the one she hooked.   I doubted that wondering how that was possible. When I picked it up I noticed something in the fish’s throat.  I yelled and asked what lure she used when she hooked hers.  She yelled back a plastic worm.  I yelled what color, she yelled blue with an orange tail.  Sure enough I pulled out a blue plastic worm with an orange tail.  I never doubted her again.  Love you Aunt Deb.  

Debbie was my cousin,teacher,neighbor and good friend enjoying knowing her she was a great person was a spunky person praying for you all.   

Those pictures say it all!! Debbie loved her family so much and received such happiness from all of them!! Just look at her smile ! I worked with Debbie for years but my fondest memories are from the Rogers Center when it was for learning disabled and language delayed students !! She was the adaptive PE TEACHER  and I was their SLP!! We had such great times and she adored doing what she did!! Rest in peace Debbie🙏🏼

Funeral Service

Ms. Slankard is survived by one brother, Jackie Slankard of Huntington; one sister, Janice Chapman and husband, Chuck of Huntington; nieces and nephews, David Slankard, Scott Slankard and wife, Alissa, Jason Chapman and wife, Amy, Christy Thompson and husband, Jason and Julie Howard and husband, Jason and great nieces and nephews, Xander, Elle, Liberty, Lakyn Grace, Canyon, Blair, Braylee, Brinley, Jett and expecting one more.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Jackson and Ruth Slankard.

OBITUARY

Debbie Slankard

March 6, 1952 – December 13, 2018

McConnell Funeral Home

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