Debra Lynn Cahill-Nivens

Debra Lynn Cahill-Nivens, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2025, at the age of 72. Marked by strength and resilience, she was a woman of many talents: a graceful dancer, a painter with a flair for color, a golfer with a swing that could humble the confident, and a cook who believed garlic and butter (and a little bit of wine) could solve almost anything. More than her dance moves, canvas, golf clubs, or her recipes, Debi was famous for her jokes. She could light up a room with a punchline, disarm an argument with a one-liner, and turn even life's hardest moments into something a little easier to carry.

Debra lived a life full of creativity, warmth and laughter. A graduate of South Garland High School, Class of 1971, Debi maintained strong connections with her classmates, especially her beloved group "The Greels" with whom she shared countless laughs and unforgettable moments. Debra spent many of her young adult years in New Orleans, where she and her husband, Jack, operated multiple ballroom dance studios and enjoyed the city's fine dining and nightlife. In the 1980's, Debra relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she spent decades raising a family and building businesses with her husband and children. Among these businesses were ballroom dance studios and Little Shoes BBQ Restaurant, which used the Shoemaker family recipes that will be cherished for many generations to come. In her later years, Debra excelled as Executive Sales Director with Marriott in Dallas. During these years, she earned several prestigious awards, including Sales Manager of the Year. Her passion for her career was evident in the relationships and lifelong friendships she cultivated along the way.

Her family and friends will remember her as a woman who never let seriousness get in the way of joy, but also knew when to be gentle, steady and deeply kind. In her honor, those who loved Debi are asked to tell a joke today – a really corny one, preferably – and share it with someone who needs a smile. She wouldn't want it any other way.

Debra Lynn Cahill-Nivens was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Shoemaker; her brother, Roger Shoemaker; her first husband, Jack Thomas Cahill, Sr.; her second husband, Michael Nivens; and her beloved furry friend, Montana.

Debra leaves behind a loving legacy, survived by her father, Roger Tom Shoemaker; her husband, Dirk Cordes; her siblings, Tracy Rodden, Lori Phillips, Marcia Potter, Steve Crowley and Brad Shoemaker; her children: Felecia Smith (Austin), Vanessa Klimisch (Justin), Natasha Cahill and Jack Thomas Cahill, Jr. (Shanlee); her adored grandchildren: Draven, Dylan, Makela, Makenzi, Jack III, and Sloane. She is also fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and friends who will carry on her memory and laughter.

Debra's life reminds us that humor and love are not opposites, but twins: both are proof that life is best when shared.

Funeral services will be held at 10am on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Sparkman Hillcrest, located at 7405 W Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas.