Deborah Sue Englehart

Deborah Sue Englehart of Montgomery, 66, unexpectedly passed away at home on December 4, 2023, from natural causes. Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and R.V. Grier; four brothers, James Grier, Edwin Grier, Bobby Grier, and Johnny Grier; and a sister, Betty Mustin. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Mark Englehart; her daughter and best friend, Stephanie Ward-Schiepek (Franz); a sister, Carolyn Law; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The youngest of seven children, Debbie was raised in Elmore County; graduated from Wetumpka High School; attended Auburn University at Montgomery; and lived her entire adult life in Montgomery. Debbie worked from a young age: in the family garden; in a cotton field; at various jobs (including a florist shop); and eventually for 25 years at the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors, mostly as the MLS-education manager, until her retirement from there in 2003.

Debbie had a kind and generous heart (obvious from an early age); was deeply creative and curious about many things; had a great, goofy sense of humor; and was a lifelong learner. She loved Stephanie’s cats, Sasha and Tig; and loved, and mourned the loss of, the family dogs, Otis, Junior, and especially her beloved Jamie Sue. Debbie grooved on music of all types and genres – probably most of all Linda Ronstadt, Heart, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, and lately, especially the Tedeschi Trucks Band (all but one of whom she saw live, some of them multiple times).

In addition to hearing live music, Debbie loved going to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (which she and Mark did between 20 and 25 times, several of them with Stephanie); traveling (which she was looking forward to doing a good bit more of); sitting outside and watching the deer, squirrels, songbirds, occasional wild turkeys, and other critters that frequented or wandered into our backyard and the adjoining woods -- and especially watching Jamie Sue chase all of them out of the yard; and generally laughing, cutting up, and enjoying life.

A memorial service and celebration of life (officiated by Rev. Mike Northcutt) will be held at Leak Memory Chapel on January 3, 2024 at 5:30 pm, with visitation and a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie’s memory to the Heart of Alabama Food Bank (formerly the Montgomery Area Food Bank) or the Montgomery Humane Society.