Debra Lee (Gebhardt) Bollinger

Debra Lee (Gebhardt) Bollinger—known to all as Debbie—passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, at the age of 64. A gentle, steady, and deeply loving soul, Debbie lived a life rooted in quiet strength, fierce devotion to her children, and an old-fashioned kind of patriotism that never wavered.

To Debbie, nothing in the world mattered more than her four children: Brandon Tyler, Robert Lee, Kristen Nichole, and Ryan Thomas. She kept every drawing, every school paper, every scribbled note any of them ever gave her—boxes and albums overflowed with these treasures because, to her, they were priceless. She poured everything she had into them, always putting herself second. Most of what she earned found its way into their hands—helping with bills and making sure they never went without—even when it meant she did. Her love was practical, selfless, and boundless.

A proud career veteran of the United States Army Reserve, Debbie carried the lessons of service and camaraderie throughout her life. She was a member of Allen’s VFW Post 2195 Auxiliary, where her husband, Robert Bollinger, served as Post Commander. The two of them shared a deep love of country and an even deeper commitment to supporting fellow veterans.

Simple in the very best way, Debbie never chased fashion, jewelry, or luxury. You’d find her in comfortable clothes -- a favorite sweatshirt, hair pulled back, no makeup needed—perfectly content with a classic TV rerun on the screen, her beloved dogs Jackal, Skibo, and Millie curled up beside her, with her kids on the phone catching up with their lives. She was nostalgic to her core, savoring the past, keeping every memory close, and finding joy in the smallest everyday moments.

Born and raised in Decatur, Michigan, Debbie never lost her connection to her hometown. She still read the Decatur Republican every week and loved short hikes through the country with her dogs, breathing in the peace of wide-open spaces. Those who knew her will always remember her easy smile, her laid-back laugh, the comfort of her presence, and the way she made ordinary moments feel sacred.

Debbie is survived by her cherished children and their families son Brandon Brinson (with Britney) of West Monroe, Louisiana, proud owner of Venture Builders, LLC, and their four boys Brantley, Branton, Brixton, and Brylan; son Robert Lee Bollinger; daughter Kristen Nichole Bollinger; son Ryan Thomas Bollinger; and her adored grandchildren Amileah, Brayden, and Sophia; her siblings David Gebhardt and Deedee; and a host of Army Reserve brothers- and sisters-in-arms who swapped stories and laughter with her for decades.

Debbie will be laid to rest with military honors at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, Debbie would be honored by donations to K9s for Warriors, an organization close to her heart that pairs rescue dogs with veterans: http://bit.ly/489Bswv

Rest easy, Debbie. Your love lives on in every one of us who were lucky enough to be yours.