Deborah Kay Harris

Deborah (Debi) Kay Harris was born January 15, 1952 in Durant, OK. She went to her forever home in Heaven on June 18, 2023.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 2:00pm at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations in honor of Debi to World Baptist Fellowship http://www.wbfi.net/support-the-wbfma

Please click link to watch service live streamed: https://video.ibm.com/channel/23847896/video/ipxqh0

Debi was born in OK and grew up in Ft Worth, Texas. She was very determined from a young age and her brother remembers that in 6th grade she told the family that she wanted to be a missionary to Brazil. Debi met Phil when she was still in high school and were married in 1970. The first years of their marriage were fun ones as they were serving on staff at Temple Baptist Church. Debi loved that time frame and would tell stories of their adventures in the youth and bus ministries. During this time their daughter, Dawn, was born.

Shortly after, they were both very distinctly called by the Lord to go to the mission field. While preparing for this new chapter of their lives, they welcomed their son, Aaron, into their family. The Harris family embarked to Brazil in 1977. Debi loved being a missionary. She loved the country, the people, the church, teaching, all of it. Debi dedicated herself not only to being Phil’s helper in the church but also to reaching out the community they were planting churches in. She spent countless hours helping people get medical attention, helping ladies to find safety from domestic violence, providing marriage counseling, parenting help, and all aspects that affected the lives of the families they were ministering to. Debi loved to teach. She taught all, but her favorite was ladies. She loved teaching them and seeing them grown and cared about each of them and their situation. She was creative and so her teachings were fun and interactive.

Debi loved her family. She was very involved in all aspects of Dawn and Aaron’s lives. She was the president of the PTA and was always ‘there’ when they needed her. Phil and Debi were adventuresome with their family and they traveled and explored more of Brazil than most Brazilians have. After they retired, Debi put her focus into her grandchildren (and her West Highland Terrier, Stirling). She has 5 grandchildren and she loved nothing more than to tell you all about each one. Debi was so intentional in her relationships. She spent time with each grandkid and knew all the specifics of what they were into and what was going on in their lives. She loved to give and she would listen during those conversations and if they told her they like a barrette or a Lego, she would immediately go to Amazon after they left and order it for Christmas.

She took such pleasure in her giving to her family. Even when her disease made getting around hard for her, she took time to spend with each person in her life. She took pleasure in that time. She and her Aunt Linda had a 2 hour conversation by phone a couple of weeks before she passed and she was glowing for a week because of it. She loved Phil and was so proud of the 53 years of marriage they celebrated. She was fierce in all she believed and loved and was the strongest cheerleader and encourager. She felt so blessed with her daughter in law and son in law-she loved them like they were her own. Debi loved to paint, cook, bake, cross stich, and write…some of those she shared with her family. Debi lived life intentionally and those around her were better because of it. Phil and Debi had a unique and blessed marriage.

Debi lived many lives in one, embracing each season and adventure for the Lord and her family.

She is preceded in death by her dear mother, Vivian Sue Smith, and father, Marvin Ray Smith, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her beloved husband Philip Mark Harris; her daughter Dawn Campos and her husband Miguel Campos and grandsons Isaac Campos and Juan Campos; her son P. Aaron Harris and his wife Suzanne Harris and their daughters, Katrina Harris, Lauren Harris and Maia Harris; her brother Robin Smith, his wife Amy Smith and their 3 daughters, Star Edwards, Sheena Smith, and Wendy Streater; her brother Kevin Smith, April, Michael and Michelle; her Aunt Linda Gaddis and her family; several cousins, friends, and those who consider themselves family.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 2:00pm at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations in honor of Debi to World Baptist Fellowship http://www.wbfi.net/support-the-wbfma