Deborah Lou (Craggs) Clarkson, 71, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday evening June 1, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas with her family at her bedside. Deborah was born August 8, 1950 in Edina, Missouri, the oldest of five children to Frank Wallace Craggs and Della Lou (Kidwell) Craggs. On November 27, 1969 in Kirksville, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Harvey Norman Clarkson. Deborah is survived by her three children, daughter, Veronica Dawn Kohl (Jerome), their children Jackson and Jasmine, son, Wesley Allen (Amy), their children Jacob, Emily, and Tyler, and daughter, Vanessa Dee (Chris), and their children Landon and Ella. She is also survived by two brothers, John Craggs (Cindy), Robert Craggs (Jeanie) and two sisters, Linda Smoot (Greg) and Colleen Lincoln, as well as 13 nieces and nephews and 23 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman, and her parents, Wallace and Della Lou Craggs.
She graduated from Knox County High School in 1968. After graduating high school, she was interested in nursing, so she began working at Twin Pines Nursing Home in Kirksville. It was there that she met her future husband, Norman. Soon after marriage, they moved to Fort Worth, TX, for Norman’s residency and then returned to Kirksville, where he began his career in medicine and began his Internal Medicine practice. Deborah enjoyed working with him in the offices in Kirksville, Edina, and Shelbyville.
Deborah loved her music and enjoyed playing the piano and giving piano lessons. She was a huge Elvis fan and loved playing Elvis’s songs on the piano. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and her house was always decorated from top to bottom with Christmas decor. She loved having her friends and family over to celebrate the holidays and sitting around the piano singing Christmas carols. She was an avid bridge player and loved having her bridge days on Mondays and Thursdays. There was never a bridge table without dishfuls of bridge mix and orange slices. She enjoyed spending time around the pool, going to the lake, and spending time in Ft. Myers, Florida and having her kids and grandkids down to enjoy the beach. Of course, there was always a mandatory trip to the Flea Market! She loved any chance that she got to watch the grandkids with any of their many activities; she was a big fan of watching them doing what they loved. Deborah loved fresh flowers, especially her favorite, yellow roses.
Deborah was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Mother’s Home Club, PEO, an active Jewel member with the El Kadir Shrine Club, and active for many years with the Women’s Auxillary with the hospital.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 10th from 6-8 pm at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home and funeral services on Saturday, June 11th at 11 am. Burial will be in Maple Hills Cemetery. Pallbearers are Brett Smoot, Jeremy Smoot, Garrett Lincoln, Brent Parsons, Kelly Beets, and Dr. Eric Purdom. Honorary Pallbearers are Bert Kimball, Jim Graham, Robie Elliott, Les Hancock, Dale Tindall, Art Hettinger, and Troy Smith.
Arrangements in care of Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Kirksville, MO.