Deborah J. Shank

1955 - 2010

Deborah Shank

Deborah J. "Debbie" Shank, 55, of Jackson, Mo., born May 6, 1955, at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

While she and Jim raised their three sons, Debbie worked part-time so she could be home with her family. Over the years, she did babysitting in their home and worked for Jackson R-2 Schools, Translectric Inc., Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the former Schaper's IGA, and Wal-Mart. When time permitted, she enjoyed doing crafts, especially needlepoint.

Debbie's independence was snatched from her in 2000, when she was injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer. The accident promulgated her move to the Monticello House in 2003. Tragedy struck the Shank family again in 2006, when their son, Cpl. Jeremy R. Shank was killed in the line of duty in Iraq.

In addition to her son, Jeremy, she was preceded in death by her parents, Paul B. and Sophia Heider Vaughn; a sister, Sharon Vaughn; and father-in-law, James Shank, Jr.

Surviving are her loving family, James "Jim" Shank whom she married on Oct. 4, 1975, in Belleville, Ill.; two sons, Christopher "Chris" and fiancee Dana Formon of Piscataway, N.J., and A1C Nathan "Nate" of Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Del.; a brother, Ronald Vaughn of San Diego, Calif.; four sisters, Kay (Joe) Carroll of Cape Girardeau, Karen (Tom) O'Carroll of Chandler, Ariz., Rosalee (Robert) Schultz of Lees Summit, Mo., Mary Vaughn-Luhman of Gaithersburg, Md.; mother-in-law, Evelyn Shank; and sister-in-law, Judi Shank, both of Belleville, Ill.

Jim, Chris, and Nate are most grateful for the support of their many friends over the past 10 years, and should friends be compelled to give memorials, Jim appreciates contributions to Chris and Nathan. On-line condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, Mo.

Funeral: The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

MCCOMBS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, Jackson, Mo.