Debra Ruth Harris Inman, of Early, Texas, passed away on January 31, 2024 at the age of 70.
Debra was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 23, 1954. She grew up in Hurst, Texas where she graduated from L.D. Bell High School and lived a life full of song. She was a member of the Texas Girls’ Choir and the New Life Singers from the First Baptist Church of Hurst. She then attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX, where she was accepted into the Heritage Singers from her freshman year. That allowed her to join them on a USO tour and meet Bob Hope, which was one of her fondest memories. She shared her voice freely with friends and family and had a song for every occasion. One of her favorite quotes was, “the Lord respects you when you work, but he loves you when you sing.”
Debra was a beautiful artist. She studied art at HPU and graduated in 1976. She was known for both her watercolors and pencil portraits. She also loved photography. She especially loved to photograph the children of her friends and family and interestingly shaped trees. She collected camels and cat cards. She was a member of the December Girls, a group of friends who she remained close to from her high school days until her passing. She adored animals and shared most of her life with cats, dogs, and often a turtle as well.
Debra worked for Kroger for 32 years. She started in the bakery/deli and worked her way up to front end manager. She loved meeting so many people over the years, both employees and customers. Whenever she would go out, she would inevitably run into someone she knew. She was incredibly proud of her “Kroger kids and family.”
Debra was proceeded in death by her father, John Victor Harris, her mother, Mary Jo Butler, and her first husband, Billy Floyd Day Jr. She is survived by her husband: Joe Bob Inman; her children: Lindsay Day, Michael Day, and John Day; her siblings: Vickie Stanley, John Harris, Joan Crosier, and Andrea Heaslet; and her sister in laws: Anna Day, Elaine Day Schele, Cindy Day, and Pat Hopper and the Inman family.
A memorial celebration of Debra’s life is still pending. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in her name to either The March of Dimes (an organization that she held extremely dear to her heart due to her own experience with a NICU baby) or the World Wildlife Fund.