Debra Joan (Gentry) Grizzle passed away in Seminole, Oklahoma on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the age of 71 years.

Debra was the daughter of Floyd & Altha (Chronister) Gentry, born on June 12, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was brought up in the Holdenville area and attended Holdenville schools. She was married to Tommy Grizzle Sr. on April 27, 1961, in Corona, California, where they made their home for many years. After a few years living alternately in California and Oklahoma, they returned in the early 1980s to live in Holdenville, their home for the past 30 years.

Debra worked as a waitress in various places while living in California, and in Holdenville she worked at Bobbie's Restaurant for many years. She worked for one year at Wrangler before retiring in 1999. She was a member of Harvesttime Church in Holdenville She loved to pray, go to church, and spend time with her family. She has earned the greatest tribute any mother can attain, that her family considers her the best mom in all the world.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd & Altha Gentry; her husband of 52 years, Tommy, in 2013; her daughter Malinda, in 2014; granddaughter Hailey, and great grandson Kayden; two brothers, Jimmy Mark Gentry and Robert Gentry, and one sister, Sharon Peters.

She is survived by four children: Tommy Grizzle Jr. of Oklahoma City, Kim Grizzle, Twila Grizzle, and Jason Grizzle (Kim), all of Holdenville; twenty-eight grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ellen Merriman of Holdenville; mother-in-law, Betty Grizzle of Holdenville; three sisters-in-law: Gloria Gentry of Seminole, Linda Aponte of California, and Donna Grizzle of California; one brother-in-law, Bruce Grizzle of California; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Holdenville, and Debra was laid to rest in the Yeager Cemetery. Rev. Jimmie Freeman officiated, assisted by Rev. Rick Madron. Pallbearers were Billy Climer, Austin Green, Josh Grizzle, Zachary Grizzle, Leroy Grizzle, and Kevin Ringgold. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Lindley, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Duffey, and Christopher Findley.