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Debra "Debbie" Lee Hillier (Russell)
Born: 11/3/1950
Died: 11/25/2020
Age: 70
Community: Flint, MI
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Debra “Debbie” Lee Hillier, passed away quickly and peacefully on November 25, 2020 at McLaren Hospital. in Flint. She was loved with all our hearts and we will miss her terribly. She was 70 years old.
Debbie was a lifelong resident of Genesee County, and lived in Flint her entire adult life. She was born the daughter of Chuck and Helen Lackey on November 3, 1950. She graduated from Bendle High School in 1969. One of the thrills of her life was the trip she took to Italy and France in high school with the French club. Debbie later earned an associate degree in biology from Mott Community College. She took pride in her children and stayed home to raise all five of them. From time to time, she worked security at concerts at Castle Farms in Charlevoix and other venues like Pine Knob and enjoyed meeting many of her favorite musicians. For a time, she owned and operated the Crazy Cajun’s Kitchen on North Saginaw Street in Flint with Roy Guidry, Jr. She finished out her career as a photographic printer at JD Color Lab in Flint. She was married to Kevin Russell for many years and later married Shawn Hillier in 1996, her surviving husband, companion, and best friend of 24 years. Debbie lived through many hard times in her life, but always encouraged people, particularly her children, to keep their sense of humor and try to laugh through those hard times. She had a great sense of humor. She loved all kinds of music, and played saxophone in high school and later in life, the fiddle. She enjoyed Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Black Sabbath, and the Moody Blues. She loved to cook, and made outstanding fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, and many other delicious foods. She loved animals and had many beloved pets throughout her life, including her surviving dog Gris-gris, Houdini the quaker parrot, and several other birds. Once, she found an orphaned baby raccoon, named it Bandit, and nursed, raised and released him. That’s the kind of caring woman she was. She loved her family, friends, and animals so much, and she was loved back. She was a great listener and good friend, daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, and great grandma. She treated her friends like family and family like friends. Debbie will be missed by all who had the honor and pleasure of knowing her.
Debbie is survived by her husband Shawn Hillier; her mother Helen Arvilla Lackey (Charles William) of Burton, MI; her sister Cheryle Lynn Andes (Robert) of AZ; her children: Jason Russell (Jessica) of Reynoldsburg, OH, Rachel Pence (Clarence) of Traverse City, MI, Joshua Russell (Kristen) of Morgantown, WV, Rebecca Lopez of Burton, MI, and Sarah Russell of Burton, MI; step-son Shawn Hillier II; grandchildren Hannah, Mason, Elijah, Aidan, Madison, Anthony, Andrew, Angelie, Travis, Randi, Isaac, Ada, Allison and Carah; great-grandson Tazzen; sister in law Marla “Sue” (Charles Richard); brothers-in-law Kenneth Hillier and Robert Hillier; nieces Amanda Brunger (Chris) and Carlye Andes; nephew Christopher Lackey (Erin); lifelong best friend of 62 years, Marie “Francis” Ogilvie, of Franklin, Tennessee; and her beloved pets Gris-gris and Houdini.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles William “Chuck” Lackey (Helen); her grandparents Ada Ruby and Alfred Slater; grandparents Zelma and Samuel Lackey; her brother Charles Richard “Rick” Lackey (Marla); her nephew Nicholas Alexander “Nick” Andes; and her great-granddaughter Havona Marie Hawsawi.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com |
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| Visitation |
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11/29/2020 |
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| Funeral Service |
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