October 17, 1947 – June 4, 2017 Memorial services for Deborah Ann Fleming Downs will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at The First United Methodist Church of Bells. Debbie, age 69, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 4, 2017 at her home in Bells, Texas.
Debbie was born October 17, 1947 in Sherman, Texas. She was the daughter of Beth and Vee Fleming. Debbie attended Bells Elementary School from 1st -7th grade. She enjoyed growing up with her sisters on their farm at Pink Hill. The sisters made great memories while living there, and thrived in the freedom in the country. Debbie was very fond of going to church and Sunday school at Antioch Baptist Church. Her family moved to Johnstown, New York in 1961, where she graduated from Johnstown High School in 1966.
After graduation Debbie made her way back to Texas as quick as she could, and was married to Bob Carter from 1967-1988. They had three children that they raised in the Bells community. Debbie was very proud to have her children graduate from Bells High School. She was a panther fan, with maroon and gold in her veins, proudly sporting her sparkly “Baseball Gran” shirts, and glitter flops at all games.
She married Ron Downs in 1989 at her beloved Antioch Baptist Church, following in the footsteps of her parents and sisters. Debbie enjoyed working at the Essin Clinic in Sherman for doctors Essin, Jackson and Gross in the early 1970s. Debbie went to work at The First National Bank of Bells in the late 70s until she retired from there in 2000 after working there for more than 20 years.
After retiring from the bank, Debbie enjoyed being a fulltime grandparent with Ron, keeping some of her grandchildren every day, and attending all of their events. Debbie was the matriarch of her family in every sense of the word. She loved her family, and carried on the long-standing family tradition, started by her mother-in-law, Margaret Carter, of Sunday dinners with her children and grandchildren, having the last one on May 21 when she celebrated two of their birthdays.
Debbie is survived by her daughter Belenda Carter Frailicks and husband Brent; sons Lance Carter, and Lonnie Carter and wife Shannon all of Bells; stepdaughters Rhonda Downs Russell of Celeste, and Sherri Downs Knobbe of Sherman. She will be remembered by her grandchildren Carter and Hogan Harris, Preston and Amelia Carter, Ronnie and Avery Russell, and Brandi Stogsdill and her children. Debbie will be missed by her sisters Janice Buchanan and husband Jan of Pottsboro, Cathye Meadors of Denison, and brother Robby Johnson of Irving; as well as the many nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts that blessed her life.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents Vee and Beth Fleming, and James R. Johnson, as well as her husband Ron Downs.
The family will be receiving visitors at Mullican Little Funeral Home in Bells from 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, June 6, 2017.
Debbie was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bells and loved her church family. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The First United Methodist Church Bells, P.O. Box 155, Bells, TX, 75414, or to keep supporting her little panthers at Bells Youth Sports, P.O. Box 301, Bells, TX, 75414.
