I am so sorry for y’all’s loss. I will always think of Debra as a friend. She was a customer of mine for many years and the world is better for having had her in it. She would always ask about my family and my children and tell me how excited she was about the things going on with her grand children. She will be missed.

🕊 The soul doesn’t understand goodbyes,
And love never dies; it always finds a way to be present.

For the past three years, Jerry and I met with Debra each month for lunch.  She always shared her joy and enthusiasm as she spoke about her grandchildren, family, and the time she spent with them.  
In the final hours before she entered the endless light, we visited her.  She shared, with quiet joy, how meaningful it was to meet her great-granddaughter and reflected on her life with honesty,  saying, “I’m sorry I don’t have more time to spend with my sons, grandkids, or all of you.  I believe I am ready.” In those words, Debra revealed the brave spirit that will forever remain in our memories. 

With great respect and love for the time we shared. 

Jerry and Isabel Willeford

Debra was a loving and devoted sister, mother and grandmother who dedicated her entire life to her family and to caring for those around her. Her warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit made her a joy to be around, and she leaves behind a legacy of love that will never be forgotten.
Though her passing was unexpected, her memory will live on in the hearts of all her loved ones and of those who were blessed to know her. May God, in His grace, grant comfort and peace to our family as we honor a life so beautifully lived.

Well, what do you say about Debra who was a spirited, plain spoken ball of fire. First and Foremost she went way too soon. Debra was forthright, direct and honest without sugarcoating or softening her words. When I first came into the family I didn’t think she cared for me too much, we were very different. Later, Debra and I shared a powerful emotional bond of our everlasting and never ending love of our boys and their families. We would talk for hours about family and all our fun events. She had so many stories of all her wonderful grandchildren. Her loyalty and self sacrifice for her mother was truly outstanding. Before her death it was heartbreaking to hear how bad she felt and what she was going through. But, she remained positive, not complaining and always sharing her love for her boys, their wives, all the grandchildren & even newly born great grandchild. Your loss is truly heartbreaking but you can hold in your hearts that each and every one of you were so truly loved by her. God Bless you all.♥️

This was a picture of Debra and I with our Italian waiter (Filipo) on the "Song of Norway" cruise ship out of Florida back when we were 19 I think.  I went with Debra, her mom, and grandmother on that cruise to the Caribbean.  We had a blast.

It was also around that same age that Debra and I went skydiving.  We told our parents were at the library and then went to League City to take lessons and were supposed to jump that day but the wind came up.  So we had to lie again the next Sat so we could go back to jump.  Debra's jump went off without a hitch, but I took too long and so jumped further out and ended up landing in a cow pasture and had to  climb over a barbed wire fence with my parachute and hitchhike back to the airport.  Debra was there waiting for me when I got back.  I don't remember what her parents said when they found out, but mine were glad they didn't know ahead of time.  lol

Bryan, Justin and Steven - I am so sorry for your loss, and send my heartfelt love.  How she was described in the obituary could not have been stated more accurately.  As different as your mom and I were, she was a loyal friend to me for 50 years.   High school was the beginning, but our friendship continued on.  When I married and moved away, she is the one who kept in touch the most.  When I came back to the Houston area, we picked up where we left off.  She always asked questions about how I was doing, and I often had to remind myself to ask her questions or we would just talk about me.  After the loss  of my husband, she reached out consistently to check in.  And then she volunteered to help me make cat food and would come out to League City every few months to help with that task.  We would listen to old country on Pandora and grind 80-90 lbs of chicken, and then I would take her out to lunch as a thank you.  We often shared fried green tomatoes.  I will remember her every time I order that appetizer in the future, and so many other times that she comes to mind.

Here are a couple pictures of our day trip to the Hoover Dam during our Vegas trip in Dec. 2016.  Debra insisted on sitting directly behind the bus driver, and I found out very quickly why that was.   She wanted to be able to ask questions, and she had alot.  She must have been storing them up and I guesstimate she asked him a hundred questions on that 1 hr drive.  lol

Debra & Karen inside our Vegas hotel, Dec. 2016

Here are a few pictures from trip to Vegas in Dec. 2016.  We checked out the beautiful Christmas decor, went to some shows (like Penn & Teller) and had a great time hanging out together.

I am so sorry for the loss of your grandma. I feel truly grateful to have known her for the time I did, she always made me laugh and was such a joy to sit with in the baseball stands. She was loud, passionate about sports, and absolutely loved watching Wyatt play. She was always wonderful to be around and truly told it like it was. She will be deeply missed.

Debra was an incredible woman.. independent,  brave,  hardworking,  and always committed to putting family first. 

The way she cared for her mom and always wanted the best for her was so remarkable.  She reached out to me a few times with questions and never once did she complain about how hard it was or how exhausted she was to provide constant care while working and still trying to be present for every moment in her grandkids' lives. 

I witnessed her showing up in so many ways throughout the years totally committed to her family. The way she stepped in to love on and help take care of Josh and Alyssa with a huge heart was always so amazing to me.  Never did she treat them as "step"grandkids... she took them under her nurturing wing and loved them just as much as her other grandchildren. 

I loved talking with her because I never had to wonder what she was thinking or feeling. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind or be herself.  She never seemed to be concerned about what she needed or wanted only focusing on her family's needs and making sure the world knew how much she loved family by her actions and presence. 

I sat with her at Alyssa's shower and we talked for a while.  I never would've imagined that that would be the last time I would get to speak to her.  She was so happy for Alyssa and excited to meet her new great-granddaughter. 

I'm so thankful to have known her and know she will be still cheering her grandkids on in every game from the bleachers because she never missed the opportunity.

It’ll forever be a memory to me the way in which you loved your family. Being so present and willing for your grandchildren is something that I will always remember. Even though our shared moments were brief, they will forever remain in my heart. May you rest in peace and thank you for the lessons you un-knowingly taught me.

OBITUARY

Debra Willeford Stiles

December 6, 1958 – December 30, 2025

Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home & Cemetery

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services