Debra Ann Barber

Debra Ann Barber, 68 of Gaylord, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey.

Born in Grayling, Michigan on June 25, 1951, Debra was the daughter of Claude and Lillian (Haskill) Dipzinski.  She grew up in Gaylord and was a 1969 graduate of Gaylord High School.

On April 12, 1975, she married Samuel A. Barber in Gaylord.  They lived for several years in Dewitt and Lansing while Sam worked at General Motors.  Debra worked in accounting and bookkeeping at Dimondale Nursing Home in Grand Ledge.  Later they returned to the Gaylord area where she worked as a bookkeeper at Lappan’s of Gaylord.

Debra and Sam lived in Elmira and Vanderbilt in retirement and spent winters in Portmansfield, TX.  Sam preceded her in death in 2016 and Debra moved to Gaylord last year.

She will be remembered by her family as a loving person who had a heart of gold.  Debra enjoyed her close relationship with her siblings, her nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and even great, great nephews.  She enjoyed cooking and feeding her family and many friends.  She also enjoyed playing cards, travel and spending winters in Texas.

Debra is survived by her sister, Elaine Ciszewski and brother, Donald (Chris Amborski) Dipzinski; nieces and nephews, Annaliese (Mark) Koronka, Christopher (Inez) Ciszewski, Amanda (Ramsey Innab-Triesh) Dipzinski and Wesley (Katie) Dipzinski; many great nieces and nephews and two great, great nephews.  She is also survived by Sam’s family; his children, Kenneth (Brenda) Barber, Robert Barber, DeLynn (Mike VanEpten) Reist and Angie (Kurt) Ramsey;  grandchildren, Brock, Nicole (Josh), Robert (Alicia), Justin (Tracy), Dustin (Tara), Austin (Sophie), Shannon and Heidi; great-grandchildren, Chandler, Sunni, Trey, Connor, Dakota, Grayson, Willow, Gavin and Gabriela.  Most importantly, she is survived by her beloved dog, Miss Ellie, who has been her constant companion these last four years.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sam; a brother-in-law, Don Ciszewski and a step daughter-in-law, Janell Barber.

In keeping with her wishes, the family will remember Debra privately.

Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service.  Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com