Debbie Gregory

Deborah Ann Gregory, 64, of Jackson passed away Monday, June 22, 2020, at her home.

She was born Oct. 5, 1955, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Vernon and Christine Montgomery Thurman. She and Alan Gregory were married June 19, 1975, at New Home General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Three children were born to their union -- Matt, Jesse and Seth.

Debbie was a 1973 graduate of Twin Rivers High School. In 1978, she received a Bachelor of Science in Education from University of Missouri in Columbia. Shortly thereafter, she and Alan made their home in Jackson, and Debbie taught at Jackson High School and Jackson Junior High School.

When she and Alan started their family, she paused her career so she could devote her full attention to the boys. She later returned to teaching science at Jackson Middle School, retiring in 2011. Thereafter, she became a volunteer at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center and later became employed at the center. When illness struck in May 2019, she was forced to leave the center. Debbie attended Cape County Cowboy Church.

Being a true "nature" enthusiast, Debbie liked all kinds of animals, from reptiles to birds. She kept an especially watchful eye on an eagle's nest near their home. And to Debbie, growing unusually challenging plants was a snap. She grew them inside and outside. The family shared many memorable vacations in Charleston, South Carolina, and Debbie especially enjoyed spending time in Fort Myers, Florida, but her greatest joy in life were her three grandchildren.

To cherish her memory, Debbie leaves her husband of 45 years, Alan Gregory of Jackson; sons, Matt (Kandra) Gregory, and sons, Hunter Baker and Laken Gregory, of Jackson, Jesse (Samantha) Gregory, and son, Drake Gregory, of Millersville and Seth Gregory of Kansas City, Missouri; mother, Christine Thurman, and brothers, Larry (Rogenia) Thurman and Gary (Darlene) Thurman, all of Poplar Bluff; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Donald and Colleen Gregory, and brother-in-law, Mark (Carole) Gregory, all of Malden, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Vernon Thurman.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. A casual gathering will be from 9:30 a.m. to service time Tuesday in the lawn area of the Cape Girardeau Nature Center, 2289 County Park Dr., in Cape Girardeau.

A casual memorial service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the lawn area, with Dr. Rodney Pensel officiating.

In honor Debbie's memory, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF). Please memo Cape Nature Center. If mailing a memorial, please send to McCombs Funeral Home, 640 W. Independence St., Jackson, MO 63755.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Debbie's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.