Deborah L. Gilbert, 71, of LeJunior, peacefully departed this life on February 28, 2024, at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Debbie was born in Harlan on November 7, 1952, and was raised in Evarts. She grew up helping her mother and sisters run Droop's Drive-In. A 1970 graduate of Evarts High School, Debbie later became a homemaker and loved to cook. After raising her children, she worked at Mack's Supermarket in Evarts, the BP station in Shields, the US Census Bureau, and more recently The City of Evarts as their Recreational/Tourism Clerk before retiring in 2010. While working for the City, she always welcomed everyone into our town as if they were family. She never met a stranger. Of all the jobs she had, the most important one to her was being a nana to her grandchildren who she loved more than anything. Debbie believed in the Baptist faith.

Debbie was greeted in Heaven by her parents, D.R "Zeb" and Margaret Newman Hicks; a brother, Rayburn "Pete" Hicks; an infant brother, Charles Hicks; a sister, Dinah Hicks; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Morgan and Polly Gilbert; and an infant grandson, Nicholas Tyler Gilbert.

Survivors include her husband of 53 years who was the love of her life, Dallas Gilbert, Lejunior; three children; Robbie and wife, Jennifer, Belfry; Nikki and husband, Brad, LeJunior; and Kristi and husband, Shane, Evarts; her grandchildren; Ashlynn, Brandon, Karyssa and husband, Alex, Connor, and her littlest love, Keira. Also surviving are her beloved sisters, Mary Ann Asher; Earlyn (Arnie) Hays; Jean (Willard) Pryor; and Tammy (Mike) Lincoln; her sisters-in-law that she loved like her own sisters, Tish (Denny) Boggs; Sheila Ball; Joyce (Tom) Hubbs; and Rita Mumford; two life long best friends, Phyllis McNabb and Kathy Black and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday from 5 until 8 pm and Sunday from 1 until 2 pm at the Evarts Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 2 pm in the Chapel of the Evarts Funeral Home with the Reverend Frank Howard and Pastor Danny McCreary officiating.

Burial will follow in the Evarts Memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

Evarts Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Deborah L. Hicks Gilbert.