We recently lost the most amazing woman, Deborah Jean Hayes when she passed away unexpectedly on September 24, 2025. She was a daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by her mother Faye Crawford, her four children, Amanda Behrends (46), Adam Johnsen (44), Rebecca Beene (37) and Erin Meredith (35), three siblings, Julie Borst, Scott Crawford and Nancy Akromis, as well as fifteen grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her father, Clois Crawford, two brothers Monty (Bud) Crawford and Timothy Crawford, and the love of her life, Michael Wagner.

Debbie was born in Omaha, Nebraska August 18, 1957. She graduated from Yutan High School before getting her degree in cosmetology at Bahner College of Hairstyling in Fremont, Nebraska. After cosmetology school, Debbie set her sights on a more fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse and attended Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital College of Nursing and University of Nebraska – Omaha while raising kids and working. After graduating college in 1986, she spent thirty-five years working as an R.N., dedicating over half of her life to helping others until she retired in 2021.

My mom always had a close relationship with God, and anyone who knew her knows that she lived through the Holy Spirit. She always knew what to say, she had all the answers. The first answers to any problem presented to her was "pray. Worry about nothing, pray about everything," and I can't count how many times she's told me, "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors."

Debbie loved so strongly and was passionate about her family and friends. I remember how often she talked about her friends and wonder now how much they have heard about us. There's nobody like her, she was the anchor we could always count on to keep us grounded, even when it meant tough love. Always shining with inspiration and encouragement; when she told you how capable you are, you believed her. She was our biggest fan and took every opportunity she could to brag about her family, especially her grandbabies. She was the voice of reason and logic in the face of chaos that ever so often floods our lives, she always knew what to do in any situation. She was always present, in the good and the bad; she just made everything better.

Her favorite part of everyday was waking up to her grandbabies and saying prayers with them before bed. She loved being a grandma and found joy in the small things; gardening, arts & crafts, football and Nascar. She was happy to do anything as long as she was with loved ones. She gave the best hugs, had the best sense of humor, and was so incredibly smart. I want to be her when I grow up. She had the kindest heart. I remember countless times when she would stop for accidents on the side of the road to help people, even if she was busy or didn't really have time. She would adopt families for Christmas and donated regularly to places like St. Judes Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. She would give anything to help anyone. She was such a special lady. No matter how many words I write about her life, they could never do her justice. I think I speak for everyone who had the privilege of knowing her when I say that there are no words for how much she will be missed. However, I think we can all agree that she is home with our Heavenly Father and at peace; she feels no pain, no sadness, and no heartache. As we celebrate her life here on earth, let us also celebrate her homecoming to our Lord in Heaven.

Arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home and Crematory.