Debra Elaine Sandefur, 66, born on January 21, 1959, in Henderson, KY, reunited with her parents, Kermit and Marjorie Gish, in Heaven on October 31, 2025.  Family and friends are deeply saddened and shocked by her sudden passing.

If you knew Debra, you knew the sound of her Volkswagen Beetle coming before you saw it — top down, music cranked up just a little too loud, her face always smiling towards the sun.  She never did anything halfway.  Whether she was spending endless childhood summer days at the pool with her lifelong best friend Anna, stitching quilts that became blankets of love for those she cherished, or pouring everything she had into being the best Mom and Nana possible, Debra gave her whole heart.

She was a hard worker with a big laugh, someone who made you feel loved and included.  Debra called Henderson her lifelong home and began her career at Community Methodist Hospital, where she cultivated wonderful friendships that lasted through the years.  Though her roots ran deep in Kentucky, she adventured to Victoria, Canada, Washington State, and Florida to see her wanderlust-loving daughter, son-in-law, and grandbabies.

In addition to her parents, Debra was preceded in death by her sister, Phyllis.

Debra is survived by her husband, Tony Sandefur; her brother, Mike Gish; her daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Eric; and two precious grandchildren, Hendrix (10) and Storey (7), who were the light of her life.  She also leaves behind her first husband and friend, Tony Duncan, along with all of his brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews, whom she loved as her own.  She is also survived by three stepchildren, Stacey Carrier, Mike Sandefur, and Steve Sutton and seven stepgrandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Pavilion at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Henderson, KY.  Family and friends near and far are welcome to attend, though Debra will feel your love from wherever you are.

No viewing or visitation will be held prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions, her daughter asks that everyone reading this honor Debra's memory in the way she would have wanted: take a moment right now to text or call whoever comes to mind.  Tell them you love them or that you're thinking of them.  That's what she would want us to do.

Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be made at www.rudyrowland.com.