Debra Jeanne Hawkins' Obituary
Debra "Debbie" Jeanne Hawkins (Brewer) passed away on December 15, 2024 after a hard-fought battle with bile duct cancer.
Debbie's life began in San Antonio, Texas at Lackland Air Force Base on September 16, 1952. She was the second of three children born to Bill and Doris Brewer. As a child, Debbie's family moved often. They lived in Miami, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, and Joplin. The Brewer family finally settled in Tulsa where Debbie graduated from Memorial High School in 1970.
Debbie's happiest moments as a child were spent in Quapaw with her brothers, cousins, and grandparents. She especially loved her grandmother "Mimi" Burggraf, who Debbie remembered as loud, rambunctious, and fun. Many memories were made at the family's gas station and tire shop on Route 66.
Debbie inherited Mimi's sense of humor and her pride in being a caring and involved grandmother. She cherished her trips to Hawaii and Arizona with Zachary and never missed Ella's Tulsa Youth Opera and School of Rock concerts. She enjoyed Halloweens with Henry, watching movies with Talon, and crafting with Emma. Debbie loved her grandchildren immensely and they will miss her tremendously.
Debbie met her husband, Derek Hawkins while they both worked at Skaggs grocery store on 21st and Memorial. They moved to Broken Arrow in 1983 and remained married for over 40 years. Together they raised three children, Ryan (Jenni), Brandon (Amanda), and Ashley (Zach).
A memorable early family vacation to Florida instilled Debbie with a lifelong love of travel, a trait she shared with her husband. She and Derek especially loved taking scenic drives along the Mosel River during trips to visit Ashley's family in Germany. That love for travel carried over into her professional career.
Debbie worked for Trase Miller Technologies booking American Airlines vacation packages for many years before retiring in 2017. At Trase Miller, Debbie made many wonderful friends and memories both at the office and while out "researching" popular destinations and hotels.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Doris, brother Ronald Brewer, in-laws Dale and Jeannie Hawkins, and niece, Kerri Ray.
She is survived by her husband Derek, her children, Ryan and Jenni, Brandon and Amanda, Ashley and Zach, grandchildren Zachary, Ella, Emmalie, Henry, and Talon, brother Bill and Margaret Brewer, Mark and Debbie Hawkins, Deanna and Bill Covington, many nieces and nephews, and by her lifelong best friend Carole Waggoner.
Debbie often expressed her tremendous gratitude for her many lifelong friends, including her Trase Miller and Skaggs families. She appreciated everyone who checked in on her during her illness, kept her company, and made her feel loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the local charity organization, Real Okie Superheroes. Ways to donate can be found at
A Celebration of Life for Debbie will be held at 10:30 on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Rivercrest Chapel and Event Center, 13307 S Memorial Dr, Bixby, OK, 74008.
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