Deborah Jean Metcalf Musgrave
Deborah Jean Metcalf Musgrave died on June 17, 2023, after a short illness.
She was born on Oct. 4, 1956, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of John and Roberta Banden Metcalf, while her father was stationed there in the U.S. Army. They almost named her Leilani, a nickname that she was often called. She will be missed by all.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jack; her daughter, Jennifer (Bill) and son, Daniel; granddaughters Allison (Ricky) and Lily; grandsons Jarod (Abbie) and Kevin; nephew J.W. (Tara), William and Johnny; sister Brenda (John); brothers John and Robert and sister-in-law, Amy.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her twin brothers, Willie and Francis.
She was an “army brat” who grew up in several states. As the oldest of six children, she grew up fast especially when her father did two tours in Vietnam during the 1960s. He retired as a chief warrant officer, but all liked it better when he was a sergeant, missing the cookouts and keggers versus the officer stuffiness.
In 1976, she married a G.I. Country Boy from Cobden and the next spring the “suburb girl” learned to truck farm, squash and tomatoes, which they did for several years with their daughter, Jennifer, packing vegetables with the best of them.
She gardened and canned, usually having corn or green beans with every supper meal. One day we were outside and her young son, Daniel, said “Mom, you need to weed this garden” and we all laughed.
She always worked from a young age as a carhop, at Cristaudo’s, at the Jackson Community Workshop and as a real estate agent among others. But she probably enjoyed most of all working as a home health aide. Her strong work ethic carried over as both Jennifer and Daniel started working at the age 15 at Flamm’s packing shed and from there on to successful careers.
She loved children and especially babies and greeted all with “open arms.” Having parties for them and providing motherly and grandmotherly affection to all who needed it.
Oh what a blessing, what a blessing indeed
To have a fine wife named Deborah Jean.
A heart of gold, but tough when need be.
Deborah, Deborah, Deborah Jean
Sexy she is, all would agree,
Deborah, Deborah, Deborah Jean.
Smart as they come, oh what a gal,
Deborah, Deborah, Deborah Jean.
Sassy she is but she carries it well,
Deborah, Deborah, Deborah Jean.
Oh what a blessing what a blessing indeed,
To have a fine wife named Deborah Jean.
She was a zealous Christian and in the future our hope is that we will be “brought back” to a new earth and will all laugh when Daniel says, “Mom, you need to weed this garden.”
By Jack, her husband of 46 years.
Deborah’s family thanks the staff of Hospice of Southern Illinois and Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home for their compassion and care.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden assisted the family with arrangements.
To visit her memorial page and to leave online condolences for her family, please visit the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home website at rendlemanhilemanfh.com.