Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Debra.

Debra Leann (Holt) Grady was born in New Castle Indiana on January 25^th, 1961, to parents Alva and Carolyn (Farmer) Holt. She was united in holy marriage to James Michael Grady on August 15, 1987, at Carmel Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana by Pastor Charles Kosburg. They were blessed with thirty-five years of married life together. She was catechized at Carmel Lutheran Church and then reborn and made a Child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in 1990. Thank you, Pastor Karl Haeussler, for your faithful teaching.  During their married life, God blessed them with two children: Megan Lee Grady in 1998 and Natalie Kay Grady in 1999, who along with their father, both survive her.  On December 23^rd, 2022, God in his infinite wisdom and mercy called Debbie home to heaven. Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of His Saints.

Debbie is also survived by; her parents Alva and Carolyn Holt; sisters Jenni (Mick) Spray and Teresa Krichbaum; brother Bradly (Rebecca) Holt. Along with these she is survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The blessing of children was the joy of her life. Megan and Natalie filled her life with blessing upon blessing, laughter, and smiles. She loved them dearly. In both girls one can see the grace and charm of their mother juxtaposed with the goofiness of their father. Debbie loved the music they made with both voice and instruments and their joyful growth into faithful young women. She was so proud of them, their success in school and in life.

God blessed Debbie’s life with many special people as she served God in her vocations within the home, church, and community. Working first in the offices of the City/County Council of Indianapolis she gained valuable secretarial skills that landed her a job in the executive offices of The Wholesale Club in Indianapolis that blessed her with many lifelong friendships. When her employer was purchased by Sam’s Club, she landed in the offices of Lonestar Cement as the secretary of Roger Campbell who became another lifelong friend and survives her with his wife Miss Judy who she, Jim, and the girls visited this past summer.

Even as the company was sold, multiple times, the Lord kept Debbie in her place for over thirty years with a wonderful stream of executives to work for. She saw Roger, Mike Clark, and Larry Hoffis all retire from what has become Buzzi Unicem USA, INC. John White, her current boss, and dear friend, was with her, Jim, Megan, and Natalie, until the end offering his love a support, just as any of these wonderful men would have done.

Beyond work, Debbie enjoyed gardening, tending tomatoes and other vegetables in her backyard. She had a special spot in her heart for monarch caterpillars and would come home from work making a beeline to check her “babies” on the butterfly plants. Enjoying a glass of wine overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean from the Florida coast or Pawleys Island in South Carolina after walking the beach was always a great time with Jim, her girls, and mother-in-law Lestine Grady.

She was an avid reader, especially loving a good murder mystery. She loved following the Pacers and Colts (heartbreaking as it was at times). Movies were a fun pastime, everything from old classics to Marvel and Harry Potter could fill a cold winter evening… with a glass of wine.

She loved her family, most recently showing that love through the care she provided for her parents Alva and Carolyn, along with her sisters and brother. At recent family reunions she enjoyed catching up with cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles as they recalled past times.

In all things, Debbie was aware of her failings as well. She was aware of her life as a sinner/saint. A sinner that was saved, made a saint, by the gift of faith in Christ. It is something to which she clung firmly to until the end. “I am going to glory… to be with Jesus” she told her siblings and others hours before her death. She was confident in her savior thanks to faithful pastors in her life, especially Rev. Dr. John Fiene and Rev. Markus Mackay who faithfully fed her with God’s Word and Sacrament to strengthen her faith and forgive her sins. She loved all her church family and the work in God’s kingdom done side by side with them… and she will see them again.

John 11:25-26

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be given to:

Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LC-MS, 11250 North Michigan Rd., Zionsville, IN 46077

Kapelle, Attn. Dr. Charles Brown, Concordia University Chicago, 7400 August St., River Forest, IL 60305

Indianapolis Youth Orchestra, Attn. Adam Bodony, 32 East Washington St. Suite 950, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Visitation and Services

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. and 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, both at Advent Lutheran Church, 11250 N. Michigan Road, Zionsville, IN.  Funeral Service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church with Pastor Marcus Mackay officiating.  Burial will follow in Lutheran Union Cemetery in Zionsville.  Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort is honored to assist the Grady family.