Deborah Ann Southwell
1958 - 2025
Deborah Southwell was a weirdo. And As such I write this at 9 o'clock in her honor.
Debbie was the eldest girl born to a tribe of sisters. Her father Gorge and mother Ruth tried to tame there little red head, but she was supper smart and wildly witty and somehow good with numbers. Like really good with numbers. So she graduated at 16 and went off to be a boomer. Literally, so at OSU Somewhere along the way she met "Hard times" and found herseIf on the back of a motorcycle. George was in it now ....
She and Ray married and had children and Debi took a turn at Auther Anderson. It's here that she learned her true gifts. Networking.
Despite how good she was with numbers, she was incredible with strangers. Though they did not stay strangers long.
Remember that I said Deborah was a weirdo. She was a worldly woman of class and grace. But she also would play and pretend with medieval reenactment, dress up as a troll to read a troll books at school. And invited magic and creativity into a home of rules and numbers.
Despite the background of illnesses over the last 30 years, she still managed to build and grow a network of people around the world. She traveled the world with Ray; Lived in Finland and Australia. Saw the most famous Art and beauty. Became a collector. Enjoyed wine; built a winery. Her spark and spunk never left.
Latter becoming president of FEI and on the national board. Despite some days feeling like groundhog days, she said "I got you babe". And continued to find fun and laughter.
Four years ago Deborah had a fall that changed her life forever. But turns out mom is such a calculator computer we just need to unplug her and plug her back in for Rebooting.
But she always wanted to be back home with her mother, daddy, and sisters. She was able to help care for her mother in her passing and be surrounded by her sisters and ever devoted son Joe.
Damn if he was by her side though it all.
So here's to broken clocks
Here's to a faithful friends
Glam-ma DeeDees wigs and glasses
Hazah for creativity
And a moment of silence for dying too young.
Here’s to you mom. I know that God is smiling on you, and we can all be free to live in grace from here.
Deborah is proceed in death by her daughter and mother. She is survived by her father, and sisters her husband Ray, children Joe and Rose, and grandchild Katrina.
A service to honor Deborah will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 7903 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74112
A time of visitation will be held at the church, one hour prior to the service
From 1:00 - 2:00pm.
Joe and Rose, I am so sorry. I know she was brilliantly creative--not because I knew her well but because I was honored to know you. - Tina McCain