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Debra (Debbie) Ann (Flint) Shores, age 74 of Stillwater, died Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at her home surrounded by family and friends. A Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Stillwater First Christian Church with Senior Minister Sondra Ladd officiating. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
Debbie was born on September 3, 1951 to Garland Russell Flint and Merrilyn Joyce (Seaman) Flint Irby in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She married John Michael Shores in January of 1984, and they later divorced.
Debbie attended the University of Kansas, Brigham Young University, and Oklahoma State university where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and her Master of Arts degrees in the fields of Spanish/Linguistics and Latin American Literature. She was a certified public-school teacher in the areas of Spanish, English as a Second Language, Secondary English and World Literature. In addition to teaching in public schools she was a private tutor, homeschool educator, education consultant, and an instructor at Oklahoma State University.
She received a number of awards for her teaching including her induction into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, OSU Student Services Award (Outstanding Service to Internationals), and First Runner-up, Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
Debbie devoted her life to her family, the LDS church of which she was a long-time member, her many friends and her professional teaching career. She will be remembered for her kindness and generosity to others, her love of travel and adventure, and her artistic and creative talents. She was a master educator of language, but her biggest gift to others was the universal language of how she made you feel. Being with Debbie meant you felt loved, important, and seen...the inherent thread that unites and warms human hearts regardless of ethnicity, race, or language.
Debbie is preceded in death by her parents Garland Flint, Merrilyn Joyce Flint Irby, stepfather Dean Irby and stepsister Ruthann Irby.
She is survived by her children Jared Shores and wife Christy, Michelle Martinez and husband Edgar, Bethany Barnett and her husband Shawn, and Tara Beth Shores. She was blessed to have 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her stepbrother Steve Irby (Becky), her Aunt Betty and Uncle Al Rutledge, Uncle Harold and Aunt Jane Flint, and a number of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
The family wishes to thank her wonderful caregivers at Luminos Hospice, Ray of Sunshine Helping Hands, Dr. Balasundaram at Pioneer Health and to her many friends who took care of her in her final days.
Contributions honoring the life and legacy of Debbie may be made in support of the International Student Assistance Fund at the OSU Foundation. Checks should be made payable to the OSU Foundation and mailed to PO Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 or gifts can be made online at https://secure.osugiving.com/s/giving/annual?dsgt=20-00900. Please note your donation is in memory of Debbie Shores. Or you may contribute to the Youth Group at First Christian Church 411 W. Mathews Ave., Stillwater, OK 74075 to support their Mission Trip.
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