It is with great sadness that Debra "Debbi" Lynn (Litzsinger) Gafner- of Springfield, MO left her beautiful earthly existence and entered her eternal heavenly home on April 13th, 2025. She left fully restored, surrounded by her life's greatest loves and was met with her mother's warm embrace. She was 61 years old.

Debbi was born July 2nd, 1963, in St. Louis, MO to Richard Litzsinger and the late love of his life, Norma J. Litzsinger. She was the middle child- being the little sister to Kim Litzsinger and big sister to her brother, Jeff Litzsinger. As a family they resided in Ellisville where they spent many days and nights on the softball field, at the river camping, and enjoying quality time together until they moved up I-44 to Springfield, MO the summer before Debbi's senior year. She graduated from Glendale High School that next spring in 1981. It was here, unbeknownst to Debbi, that her life would truly begin, and her purpose would become more meaningfully clear.

Debbi liked to keep her family on their toes with her many silly antics and adventurous spirit throughout her young adult life. But it was the many friendships she crafted and bonds she forged during those years that fueled her desire and love to inspire others. She truly danced through her life making each moment uniquely her own. Always by her side was her brother, Jeff. Together, they spent many years dancing the nights away and endless weekends at the racetrack where Debbi would proudly cheer him on. She loved watching him enjoy his passion just as much as she loved being a part of it all. It was during these unforgettable years that God brought into her life a man who would become her soul's true love.

On June 15th, 1990, Debbi met and began dating the love of her life, John Gafner of Springfield, MO. The two were united in marriage on June 19th, 1992, at her family's "Heaven on Earth" -- Table Rock Lake-- surrounded by their closest family and friends in Debbi's parents' backyard. John and Debbi would go on to have years of difficulty in their journey to becoming parents, but in true Debbi fashion, she remained steadfast in her faith and continued living her life as a dedicated wife, loyal sister, loving daughter, and cherished friend. Then on May 9th, 1998, God answered her hearts biggest prayer, and their beloved son Chase Jared Gafner was born bringing her heart the truest joy and happiness.

Being a mother was Debbi's greatest calling and one she embraced with every fiber of her being. Together, John and Debbi would spend the next 27 beautiful years raising their phenomenal son—attending every sporting event, practice and milestone. Debbi was determined to create and capture magical memories and absolutely lived life to the very fullest.

Beyond being the wonderful, beautiful, and ever-present mother she was, Debbi also gave deeply of herself and her heart to her community. She was an active member of the Sertoma chapter for many years, leaving her mark on the community by graciously supporting disadvantaged children and families. She was also a dedicated member of the local Elks Lodge #409 and amongst her proudest community contributions was her work and volunteering with her favorite local organization, Women In Need which provides hardworking single women with a hand UP, not a hand OUT!

Throughout her many ventures with these organizations that she was incredibly passionate about, Debbi formed countless lifelong friendships and curated relationships that will forever leave a legacy of true sisterhood and love. Relationships that stood the test of time and that carried her through a major health scare in 2017 when she was diagnosed with a very rare disease in her eye. Throughout the trials and tribulations including many corneal transplants and severe vision loss, she continued to shine through the clouds. She danced through the darkness with dignity and grace and that ever-radiant spark that allowed her to continue to shine her bright light of love.

There's so much we can all learn from Deb. It was when she was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 2022, that her strength and unwavering faith truly made an impact on so many people. She was not going to back down from this monster. She faced it head on with so much grace and determination. She set ultimate goals and fought to meet them. Of her goals, her most cherished one was making sure she was there to watch her only son marry the very woman she spent his life praying for, and she did just that. On that special day, she shined radiance and strength-- a truly beautiful sight. It was by her love for Jesus, the constant prayers surrounding her, her steadfast faith, stoic nature and determination, and her big circle of her Elephant tribe that she was able to fight for as long as she could. A warrior who never gave up and whose legacy will forever live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Throughout her battle, she persevered with her sister Kim never leaving her side. This wasn't a regular sister relationship, though most who have witnessed the "sister fights" would say otherwise. Those that truly understood and appreciated Kim and Debbi's bond knew that their connection ran beyond familial meaning. They are true soul sisters. We have peace in knowing their souls will forever remain connected as God clearly intended.

Debbi is survived by her loving and incredibly supportive son, Chase Gafner and his beautiful wife, Alyssa Gafner both of Springfield, MO. She is also survived by her sister and best friend, Kimbra Litzsinger of Springfield, MO; loving brother Jeffrey Litzsinger and his wife, Chrissy of Hillsboro, MO along with their loving father, Richard Litzsinger.

She leaves behind a very special niece, Amber Viles, and her husband Adam Viles of Willard, MO. Amber and Debbi shared a lifelong connection of laughs and an unbreakable friendship with many things in common and memories to treasure. Debbi was also a proud aunt to two amazing nephews, Dalton and Evan Litzsinger of Hillsboro, MO, that she loved dearly. She was one of their biggest cheerleaders in all of their wrestling and sports endeavors. Her heart overflowed with love for her great-nieces, Kimberlyn and Caydence Bean, daughters of Amber, who brought so much pride and joy into Debbi's life as they showered her with the love they had for her.

Debbi is also survived by a large and loving host of extended family and treasured friends—people she held close to her heart and of whom she loved so incredibly deeply.

She was preceded in death by her beautiful mother, Norma J. Litzsinger and her very sweet and special father-in-law, Richard Gafner, Sr who were both eagerly awaiting her grand entrance into Heaven.

A celebration of life will take place at the Elks Lodge #409 located at 2223 E. Bennett St. Springfield, Mo 65804 Sunday, April 27th from 1-3pm following a private cremation. Debbi was always the life of the party and requested that we spend this time celebrating a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Women In Need using the link provided here .