Debra Jane Cobb

Debra Jane Cobb (often known as Debbie or Deb) passed away on January 12, 2026, surrounded by love. Debbie was a beloved and devoted wife to Michael, mother to Cind and Johnathan, grandmother to Ben, Molly, and Alex, sister to Richard and Steve, and dog mom to Rusty. She was a kind and thoughtful friend, neighbor, and community member — an eternal optimist with a gift for making everyone she met feel truly seen and loved.

Born on October 13, 1954 on a dairy farm in Pleasanton, Kansas to Daune and Romalea Miller, Debbie was the youngest of three children. She was an adventurer at heart, and she met Michael in a skydiving club at Pittsburgh State University. They were married for 52 years. Together, they lived in six different states as Michael pursued his career in physics. Through every move, they embraced new experiences and molded each home into a loving and joyful place for their children to grow up. Debbie and Michael co-founded CASSI Corp, a small business that provided radio telescopes to research programs around the world.

A lifelong educator, Debbie's compassion and steady encouragement left a lasting impact on the students she served. After a decade of teaching in schools across Iowa, Virginia, New Mexico, and Missouri, she earned her Master's degree in Counseling and served as a high school guidance counselor in Perryville, Missouri. Debbie was a devoted member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding.

Family was Debbie's highest priority. She loved her family deeply and always made sure they knew it. She enjoyed spending time with Johnathan and his partner Emma and with Cind and the grandkids, taking long walks around the lake with Michael and Rusty, and kayaking with her friend Faina. She was always happy to do whatever she could to make her family's life easier, and made sure everyone was well fed when they came to visit. Her grandchildren loved to spend time with her and Michael jumping into the lake or swimming down at the beach. She found joy in nature and loved planting bright flowers, gardening, savoring peaceful sunsets, and birdwatching on their back porch.

Last year, Debbie had the opportunity to blend adventure and family when she and Michael took a memorable trip to Norway with Johnathan and Emma, where they witnessed the radiant Northern Lights above the Arctic Circle.

Debbie loved to read and was rarely without a book or two close at hand. She was an active member of the Raintree community in Hillsboro, Missouri, where she attended book club, exercise classes, and community events with friends and neighbors. Debbie's heart also extended to animals. Her devotion to Rusty, who rarely left her side, was matched by her generosity toward animals everywhere through her volunteering and advocacy for organizations such as Pet Pals and the Humane Society.

Debbie's life was one of kindness, curiosity, service, and joy. Her impact will continue through the lives of those fortunate enough to know and love her.

A celebration of Debbie's life will be held at the Raintree Country Club Community Center on February 7th at 2:00 pm. Donations in her memory may be made to the Humane Society of Missouri.