Deborah Crawford

Deborah Marie (Simpson) Crawford, 67, of Poplar Bluff went to be with her heavenly Father Nov. 30, 2020 at St. Marys Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Debbie was born March 4, 1953 to the late Billy and Mary (Cofer) Simpson in St. Louis. She married Louis Clarence Crawford June 8, 1971, in Poplar Bluff. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage. He survives. Debbie and Louis moved around as Louis went in the Army and was stationed at Seattle, Washington. After his discharge from the Army, they came back to Poplar Bluff, then on to Louisville, Kentucky for 11 years, then came back to Poplar Bluff in 1988 where they made their home. They both had to move to The Manor nursing home in Poplar Bluff 15 months ago because of poor health.

Debbie was of the Pentecostal faith. She loved the Lord and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Debbie’s greatest love was for her Lord and Savior and her family. She liked to entertain little children with her puppets, Luke, Nancy and a rabbit named Squeaky. She went to hospitals and nursing homes giving puppets shows. She was a caregiver at nursing homes and was even a security guard at Pinkard Security. At a young age Debbie had Polio. She overcame it by learning how to walk again, but it left her legs and feet crippled. That did not stop her from playing the role of big sister to nine brothers and sisters.

Debbie is survived by spouse: Louis Clarence Crawford; children: Louis Crawford and wife Jamie, Christina Lachance; grandchildren: Victor Crawford, Lantz Crawford and wife Jamie, Patrick Crawford, Marie Cundiff; great-grandchildren: Lucas Crawford, Cassandra Crawford, and Kourtney Crawford, Shelby Crawford, Delilah Ellsworth and one more due Dec. 16, 2020; brothers: Billy Pyles and wife Katie, Robert Simpson and wife Cathy, Darren Simpson and wife Vicky, Jerry Simpson and wife Tammy; sisters: Mary St. Clair and husband Bob, Reva Williams and Patty Simpson; as well as nieces, nephews and friends whom she dearly loved.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents; maternal grandparents: Albert Cofer, Minnie (Dicus) Katzendorn, Andrew and Jamie (White) Simpson, stepgrandfather: Joseph Katzendorn; brother, Michael Simpson; sister, Darla Simpson; two grandsons: Christian Crawford and Nate Wilson; granddaughter: Cheynne Crawford.

Debbie will be missed by many.

Graveside funeral service will be 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at Qulin Cemetery.