Jewel G Debardelaben

Jewel (Guyton) DeBardelaben lived a life she loved through, family, friendship, hard work, support and wonderful memories. On Monday, October 19, 2026, Jewel joined our Heavenly Father, her husband, parents, 16 siblings, and many friends in Heaven.

Jewel was the 15th of 17 children born to Samuel and Virginia Guyton on December 26, 1940 in Acworth, Georgia. She was raised on the family farm with her 6 brothers & 10 sisters, where she learned the value of hard work, the joy of family, and the importance of caring for others. As a young girl, she learned to cook and sew, played in the nearby creeks, and on her high school basketball team. After graduating from Acworth High School, she moved to Atlanta to live with her sister Marie and began the next chapter of her life.

In the summer of 1962, Jewel had a blind date with Robert “Bob” DeBardelaben. Six months later, they were married on New Year’s Eve and began a marriage that spanned 60 years, building a life filled with family, football “Go Clemson", flying “Thanks Delta”, farming in Madisonville, TX & Monticello, GA, and fishing where ever they could drop a hook in the water.

Jewel and Bob began raising their kids in Fort Benning, Georgia before relocating to Houston, Texas where they settled into the Inverness Forest Subdivision in December of 1969. Jewel was deeply involved in her neighborhood and served on the Tennis Association and Inverness Forest Water Board for multiple decades. She attended Spring Baptist Church for 15+ yrs and after re-locating to the Lake Nacogdoches, near Rob, she attended the Alazan Congregational Methodist Church.

Jewel was an accomplished tennis player, bowler, and loved playing cards, board games and bridge with her closest friends. She was tough to beat. Jewel served as a Girl Scout leader, coached softball, and spent more than seven years bowling/traveling alongside her special needs friend, Kevin on a Special Olympics team. She gave her time, energy, and encouragement generously, always finding ways to participate, support others, and make a difference.

Jewel began her career as a realtor, in the mid-70s selling new homes with Linda in Woodcreek then spent 30 more years selling homes throughout North Houston. She worked with Ferester & Co and retired with Coldwell Banker United in 2020. Through her work, she helped countless people find a place to call home, building life-long friendships along the way.

Above all, Jewel was a “Super Mom”. She attended school plays, supported booster clubs, hosted birthday parties, attended every track & swim meet, football, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, game or tournament that Tanya, Rob, and Raymond participated in. Whether cheering from the sidelines, shuttling neighborhood kids to ball games, battling neighborhood floods, hurricanes and tornadoes or visiting a friend at the hospital, you could always count on her.

Jewel loved her husband, 3 children, 16 siblings, in-laws, countless nieces & nephews, 5 grandchildren, and 2+ great-grandchildren along with her amazing neighbors, real estate partners and builders with all her heart. And if you knew Jewel, you knew that love often came served on a plate! After a day spent on Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, or fishing out of a Madisonville pond, Jewel could fry up enough fish and hush puppies to feed half the neighborhood. She was especially famous for her mouthwatering brisket, a favorite at reunions, potlucks and our Easter weekend campouts. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, connection, and her food a delicious expression of the love she gave so freely.

Jewel’s life was a testament to the power of love, loyalty, generosity, and showing up for others. She leaves behind a legacy woven into the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the many people fortunate enough to have known her. Though her presence will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on in the family traditions she created, the meals shared around the table, the stories told with laughter, the friendships she nurtured, and the endless memories that will be treasured for generations.

Jewel was the last living child of her 16 siblings and is survived by her children Tanya DeBardelaben (Alan H.), Rob (Layne) DeBardelaben, Raymond (Gina) DeBardelaben, grandchildren Holly (Davis), Rebecca (Noel), Haden, Kathryn Jewel & Steven and two+ great-grandchildren Judah & Ezra.

What a life. What a legacy. What a blessing to have known and loved Jewel DeBardelaben. May she rest in eternal peace, reunited with those who went before her, knowing that the love she gave so freely will never be forgotten.

Visitation will be held at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038, US, on October 30, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

A Funeral Service will follow at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038, US, on October 30, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

A Committal Service will be held at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038, US, on October 30, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.