Deborah A. Rankin

Deborah Ann Rankin (nee Boyd), age 72 of Omaha, Nebraska passed away Friday, September 26th at her home surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sister. She was born June 6th, 1953 in Colorado City, Texas to the late Jack Harold Boyd and Veda Willena Melton. She was the oldest of five children, and when her mom passed away at an early age, she stepped in to help her father raise her siblings while starting a family herself.‍

Deb loved watching sports of all kinds, whether it was watching her kids play basketball or baseball or watching her grandchildren at their various athletic events or just being with family on Sundays watching the Denver Broncos, Wyoming Cowboys or March Madness. She loved being on the lake at Hawaiian Village, loved pontoon rides, but mostly she just loved having her family around her.

During her high school years, she was a baton twirler and dancer. That’s where she met the love of her life, Larry Rankin. He watched her perform a baton solo and told her, “I’m going to marry you someday.” The rest was history.

Deb stayed home with her children when they were little and stepped in to become the provider when her husband became ill for a time. She fiercely loved her family, and she did whatever it took to make sure they were happy, supported and loved. She was an avid reader and shared books with her family, although none of them could keep up with her voracious reading ability. But sitting still and staying home was not enough for her.

Deb loved life and lived out loud. She was a free spirit at heart, and traveling with family gave her some of her most cherished memories. She traveled to Mexico, Jamaica and all over the United States with Seward, Alaska and Four Corners, Wyoming being her favorite places.

Mom earned her B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Economics in 1995 and became an IT director for a major paper company, Cenveo. She was such a valued and talented director that when she finally retired at the age of 70, they had to hire a team of four to replace her.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Veda Willena Boyd and her father and mother in-law, Harold and Dorothy Rankin.‍ She is survived by her husband and best friend, Lawrence Deane Rankin; her beloved children, Stacy Athow (Mark), Toni Watt (Joe), Ashley Rankin (Cleonice) ; her adored grandchildren Taylor Smith, Riley Smith (Kaitlyn), Sierra Athow, Payton Watt (Brea), Rhett Watt, Lydia Rankin (Chase), Anna Livia Rankin, Ava Gould, Doug Watt (Jessica) and children, Brian Watt (Carlos) and child and Jason Watt (Lindy) and children; great-grandchildren Cody Lawrence Deane Smith and Valentina Frances Rankin-Contreraz; and brothers Doug Boyd (Lynn), Bill Boyd, Eric “Skeeter” Boyd (Connie) and Kathy Rochediu-Boyd (Michele).

A celebration of Debbie’s life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 30th at Braman Mortuary (Millard Chapel). There will be a burial in June at the Omaha National Cemetery, as her husband was an Army Veteran. There will also be a celebration of her life, spreading of ashes and time to honor her beautiful story of love and life in July at her favorite place-her property at Castle Creek, Wyoming. Specific dates will be announced at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a memorial fund in her honor, CLICK HERE to donate. This will be used for a celebration of her life in Wyoming and the remaining funds will be donated to Monroe Myer Institute in Omaha, Wyoming where they serve children and adults with Autism

Braman Mortuary and Cremation Services, 6505 S. 144 St. Omaha, NE 68137 / 402-895-3400