Obituary of Debby L. Howard

Debby Lee (Sanders) Howard of Abernathy, Texas, age 72, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, November 24,2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Debby was born on September 8, 1951, to Davy Lee and Sue (Harless) Sanders. Debby grew up in County Line, Texas. She graduated from Abernathy High School in 1970. She married Jerry Wayne Howard on March 28, 1980. Their love began far before that though, having dated in high school. Life separated them, but love brought them back together. They made Abernathy their home where they raised their two children, David and Wendy. Debby enjoyed supporting her kids in everything they did. She and Jerry have spent retirement driving all over supporting their grandchildren in dance, baseball, soccer, and basketball. She enjoyed spending time with her kids and grandchildren at home, too. She taught her oldest granddaughter, Hollyn, to sew and her youngest granddaughter, Callyn, to draw. She had special times with each one and enjoyed every visit, phone call, and FaceTime. The grandkids are the light of their lives. Debby was preceded in death by her parents, Davy and Sue Sanders; a brother, Davy Jr, and a sister, Lisa Sanders. She is survived by her husband, Jerry of Abernathy; a son and daughter-in-law, David and Ashley Howard of Lubbock; a daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Zac Schilling of Farwell; and five grandchildren: Hollyn, Myrcea, and Hayes of Lubbock and Carson and Callyn of Farwell; a sister, Beverly Mullins, as well as a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rex and Carol Hester, and numerous nieces and nephews. Family will gather at Abell Funeral Home to receive friends from 6:00pm until 7:00pm, Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Debby’s life how she wished - with a simple graveside ceremony at the Abernathy Cemetery on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm. If you feel led, please donate to the Southwest Parkinson Society 3610 22nd St. #300 Lubbock, TX 79410, or the Lewy Body Dementia Association 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Ste 205 Lilburn, GA 30047, to help find a cure for these horrible diseases. Services for Debby Howard are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, Texas.