Debra Jo Ridge

Debra Jo Stephens Ridge, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Sept. 24, 2011, at age 55. She was born in Lynchburg, Va., on Nov. 8, 1955, and grew up in Alice, Texas, graduating from Alice High School in 1974. She attended Texas A&I University, where she met her husband of almost 36 years, Bill Ridge.

Survivors include her husband, Bill Ridge, and daughter Jade (Richard) You

ng, of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are her parents, Dewey and Shirley Stephens, and a brother Mark (Irene) Stephens, of Alice, and a beloved niece, Heather Stephens, of Corpus Christi, and two sisters, Sherri (Gilbert) Ancira and Melanie Stephens and fiancé Stephen Giorlando.

Lockhart survivors include her mother-in-law Naomi Ridge and her sister-in-law Lynnette (Clay) Ross; sister-in-law Corally (Dave) Meier, of Uhland; and a host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Her father-in-law, Clyde Ridge, preceded her in death.

To celebrate Debbie is to celebrate all of the rainbow colors of life within a circle of love, family, laughter, bright flowers and lavender, the happiness of cooking for friends, and her passion for the things that she found to be most beautiful, especially her daughter Jade.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Oct. 14, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Central Christian Church, 1110 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78701. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund www.ocrf.org.