Deborah (Debbie) Barnes Obituary

Deborah (Debbie) Lynn Barnes, 68, of Gainesville, Texas passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025 at her home in Gainesville, Texas surrounded by family. She was born on April 29, 1957 in Corona, California to Wesley and Janis (Littlepage) Hale.

Debbie grew up in Dallas, Texas. In 1981, she gave her life to Christ and was radically transformed. Her life, from that point forward, was one of service to God and the people she loved. She married Andy Barnes in 1981, and together they embarked on a life of ministry to children and teens.

In 1983, Andy and Debbie were introduced to homeschooling, and joined the ranks of the pioneer homeschoolers. They were arrested for homeschooling in Terral, Oklahoma just weeks after the school year began, but all charges were dropped the following year. In 1988, they began their service as youth leaders for Trinity Foursquare Church in Gainesville, teaching Bible studies and hosting numerous outings to Christian concerts, game nights, camping trips, and other entertainments.

In the summer of 1990, Andy and Debbie took a position as cottage parents at Presbyterian Children’s Home in Itasca, Texas. They were influential in the lives of many, many girls through their years at “the home,” giving them a loving, secure home, and leading many to Christ.

In 2000, Debbie jumped on board as Andy began a business building Monolithic Dome homes, assisting in every aspect of the business. They built their own dome as a retirement home in Kingston, Oklahoma.

Debbie was always a homemaker at heart, and found the most enjoyment in serving her husband, daughters, and grandchildren. She was a very active and involved Granny. She was “crunchy” before it was trendy, growing massive organic gardens, treating illness with herbs, and cooking from scratch.

After Andy passed away, Debbie continued to work in childcare to support herself, serving as a nanny, and in the nursery of First Christian Church of Gainesville, Texas. She loved God, her family, plants, gardening, and birds.

Debbie is survived by daughters Nicki Truesdell and Amandah Tanner, son-in-law Randy Truesdell, sister and brother-in-law Kari and Gary Davidson, grandchildren Cade Holliday, Claudia Smith, Sydney Holliday , Emma Holliday, Chloe Adkins, Jarah Holliday, Wyatt Tanner, Nicholas Truesdell, Levi Tanner, Nathan Truesdell, and Catie Truesdell, and great-grandchildren Alice and Ivy Scott, Atlas and Lavender Adkins, Sutton Salazar and Karson Holliday, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Andy Barnes, and parents Wes and Janis Hale.

A memorial service for Debbie will be held Saturday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. at New Life Bible Church in Gainesville, Texas. She has been interred at Coleman Cemetery in Coleman, Oklahoma beside her beloved husband Andy.