Debra Lynn Meeks (nee Bratcher), age 71 and a resident of Chikaming Township, MI, passed peacefully to the Lord on September 16, 2018, at the Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, MI, after a courageous battle against lung cancer.

Diagnosed in 2015 and expected to live for only 30 days, Debra was blessed with prayers from her family and close friends from around the country that, combined with her own positive attitude and sheer grit, enabled her to live for 3 years instead.

Debra was born on September 7, 1947, in South Bend, IN. She graduated from John Adams High School in 1965, and obtained her Bachelor of Education degree four years later from Indiana University, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

Debra married her high school sweetheart, Robert, in 1969, and they enjoyed a very happy 49 years of married life together. After moving several times, Debbie and Bob settled in Naperville, IL in 1976. Debbie was an award-winning elementary school teacher in Naperville for over 20 years, obtaining her Master's in Education along the way. After retiring from teaching, Debbie co-founded Oak Consulting, a human resources consulting company, with her husband and served as CFO for 11 years.

She impacted the lives of thousands of the recently unemployed with her gentle guidance. Debbie was also responsible for founding the Madeline Sweeney Meeks family foundation, an organization providing education scholarships to those committed to serving their community.

After retiring from Oak Consulting and snowbirding between homes in Michigan and Florida, Debbie had more time to indulge her love of golf and served as an officer at Olde Hickory Country Club in Ft. Myers, FL, and Chikaming Country Club in Lakeside, MI. She was a member of Harbert Community Church in MI, where she often volunteered for their children's programs.

Debbie was an active adventure traveler, completing 53 cruises and numerous land trips to places like Russia, China, Kenya, Alaska, and Egypt (she even let Bob come too).

Debbie is survived by her devoted husband, Robert, brother Dennis, son Andrew, daughter-in-law Jenny, and the light of her life, her grandson Charlie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Doris Bratcher.

In lieu of flowers, Debbie requested that donations be made in her honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Salvation Army. Services and interment will be private.