Debra L. “Debbie” Williams, age 67, of Sheridan, Indiana, passed away on Sunday morning, May 31, 2026, at Majestic Care of Sheridan, after a long battle with early-onset dementia. Born August 2, 1958, in Arkansas, she was the daughter of James E. and Margaret P. (McCracken) Houserman.
On June 1, 1973, Debbie married Perry O. Rood. After her divorce from Perry, she married Paul J. Williams. They were married on December 6, 1980. They would divorce several years later.
Debbie attended Sheridan High School. Her years at SHS were cut short however, when her daughter Jenny decided to make a surprise appearance. She then waited 14 years before having her oldest son, Philip, who arrived on a literal dark and stormy night. As if dealing with a mouthy teenager and a trying toddler wasn’t enough “punishment”, Debbie added a set of twins, Cheley and Clint, into the mix. Talk about an interesting family dynamic!
She was a hard worker who never knew a stranger. She always made lots of new friends wherever she was working. She often told stories about the fun times they all had. Some of those stories, especially the not so innocent ones, were always shared with a playful smile. Throughout the years she worked for many different businesses, including Aero Drapery in Westfield, where she worked on the assembly line, Pizza Hut in Noblesville, where her daughter, Jenny, remembers her always coming home smelling like a supreme pizza, and Frito Lay in Frankfort as a packer on the line. She later worked in the Marsh bakery in Westfield, putting her baking skills to good use, making and decorating cakes. This carried over into Debbie taking orders for cakes that she would make at home. Her last position was with IMMI in Westfield, where she was part of the seat belt production line.
Debbie enjoyed her family and friends, as well as life in general. Her interests included baking, reading, and collecting lots of family treasures, such as a paper that Jenny made in kindergarten of a flower made from Cheerios, and things from when Philip, Cheley, and Clint were little rascals. She was also a great connoisseur of magazines. Debbie was known to have a mischievous side, especially when her best friend, Michelle, was involved. One such adventure during their teenage years had them throwing chocolate covered cherries at car windshields.
Debbie is survived by her 4 children, Jenny Watson (Jeff), Phil Williams (Cyndi), Cheley Long (Ray), and Clint Williams; 4 grandchildren, Hunter Williams, Nevaeh Emry, Aiden Williams, and Keaton Williams; 3 siblings, Sherry Graham (Brant), Jimette Osborne (Brandon), and Kenny Houserman (Monica); 3 nieces, Stacey Graham, Betsy Graham, and Brandy Schilke (Steve); 1 nephew, Shafer Graham (Claire); and many dear friends, including Michelle Jones (Stan), who was not only her best friend, but also like a sister to her, and a bonus mom to her children. She was preceded in death by her parents, James E. and Margaret P. (McCracken) Houserman. Debbie’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Majestic Care of Sheridan for taking such great care of their mom for the past 11 years. Because of you, we were able to rest in the comfort that she was safe. Also, your genuine compassion for our family during the week prior to her passing was a kindness that we will never forget. Memorial contributions may be presented to your local Humane Society, or to the Dementia Society of America. There are no services being planned at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.