Debra Jeanne Brown Yeoman

Debra Jeanne Brown Yeoman died unexpectedly in her Houston home on June 25, 2010 at the age of 56. She was born the middle child to Zelda Pearl Cornett Brown and Charles Wayne Brown in Ponca City, Oklahoma on November 1, 1953. Debe attended Oklahoma State University and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University to complete her BA in education in 1975. Following college she worked for Southwest Title, David Lowe Personnel, and the Carlisle Company in Houston. She joined Continental Airlines in 1987 where she worked for the next 23 years in reservations and most recently in project management.

Debe was an avid traveler and made use of her flight privileges to explore the sights and sounds of Japan, Hungary, and Greece to name a few. She and her daughter Erin also made regular weekend trips to New York to take in as many Broadway shows as humanly possible.

Debe was also a talented jewelry designer gathering objects from around the globe to incorporate in her creations. Her company, “Debe Yeoman Designs,” was distinguished in its belief in the power of women’s businesses in changing the world. Inspired by the book, “Half the Sky, Debe contributed 25% of all proceeds to women’s charities.

She was also involved with the Junior League, the Theta Charity Antique Show, and was one of the annual giving coordinators at Continental for the March of Dimes. While her daughter was growing up, she took on the roles of basketball coach, 8th Grade Dance Co-Chair, Sweet Sixteen Co-Chair, and Project Prom Coordinator. Anytime a helping hand was needed, Debe was there.

Debe is preceded in death by her grandparents Lois and Jim Brown of Neodesha, KS and Lilamae and Pryor Cornett of Weatherford, TX.

Debe is survived by her only child Erin Yeoman of Nashville, TN, her mother and step-father, Zelda and Ed Schnick of Downers Grove, IL, her father Charles Brown of Palestine, TX, her sister, Natalea Watkins of Stillwater, OK, and her brother Chris Brown of Georgetown, TX. She is also survived by two step-sisters, Julie Motycka of Batavia, IL and Brenda Schick of Warren, PA, a step-brother Doug Schnick of Michigan City, IN as well as countless cousins, nieces, and nephews.