Deborah Ronan

Deborah Lynn Ronan, 57 of Texarkana, Texas passed away in a Little Rock Hospital on Friday, February 18, 2011. Mrs. Ronan was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Chruch. She was born on December 16, 1953 in Pocatello, ID.

How do you sum up in a paragraph or two the life of someone who gave so much to life, to all those she knew? How do you begin to describe who she was- a woman, an oldest daughter, a sister, a wife and mother, a friend, a devoted child of God? You can’t and yet you try.

The world is a lot less happy today. Deborah Lynn Milton Ronan surrendered on her own terms with a courage and grace seldom seen to a seven year battle with Cancer at UAMS, Little Rock, Arkansas a little past noon on Friday, February 18th. She was surrounded by those who loved her best, her husband of 35 years, Paul Ronan, her sons, Kyle, of Texarkana and Collin of South Carolina, her parents, Ralph and Betty Milton of Twin Falls, Idaho, her much loved sisters, Judy Downs of Utah, Joy Kuck of Oregon, and her dear friend Marcelle Arden of Florida, and her other "sons" Josh Riley of Conway, AR and David Huckabee of Little Rock, AR. Her close friend, who she referred to as the “beautiful sister”, Cindy Drugley of Atlanta, Georgia was with her in spirit. She was a graduate of Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho where she met and married her college sweetheart in the Spring of 1976.

Debby served as a hygienist in the office of Dr. Rowan Patterson until his untimely passing and finally with Dr. Andy Curry. She fast became more than a hygienist to her bosses, co-workers and patients. She became their life-long friends. Some of her favorite patients were “her Marines” and the young men and women from Opportunities, Inc. For many years she welcomed Boy Scout friends of her sons into her home as they arrived for a weekend away from staff work at Camp Pioneer or following an Order of the Arrow weekend. It was not unusual to find her, on a Saturday morning fixing breakfast for 20 or more hungry young men. Her door was always open to her friends and to the friends of her sons.

Her friends, especially the Nicklas’ who became her second family relished events where she would bring her amazing Potato Salad and “good ass” Jumbalaya. Anyone who knew her loved her. How could they not? Her warmth, humor and gentle spirit ran as deep as the roots of her red hair.

Rest well, my little red haired girl. We’ll be along to see you again in a little while.

Rosary and visitation will be held Sunday, February 20th at East Funeral home-Downtown at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be conducted by Father Francis O’Dowd, Monday February 21st at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Elizabeth Street. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to: U.A.M.S. Wintrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 4301 W. Markham St., #623. Little Rock, AR 72205

Condolences may be sent to the families web site at www.eastfuneralhome.com