Deborah Ann (Gerow) Howard, age 76, was born December 27th, 1948, in Rome NY, daughter of Capitola Aribella (Gerow) Dupree and James Kent Gerow. Her courageous battle with ALS ended peacefully on June 28th, 2025, in Utica, NY. Deborah was married to the love of her life, Phillip "Terry" Howard, June 1st, 1968. Deborah and Phillip shared forty- two years of love and memories together.

Mrs. Howard attended Waterville High school and went on to earn a business degree at Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, NY. After graduation, Deborah and Terry moved to Florida, in 1972. She used her hard work in the business field to advance to executive secretary for The Department of Public Safety in Citrus County, FL, where she worked until her retirement. In 2018, eight years after the passing of her beloved Terry, Deborah moved back to Central New York to be closer to her family.

Deborah thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family, attending breakfast dates with her friends from school, shopping and going to yard sales, traveling back and forth from Florida and New York, visiting her favorite place, Tennessee, and spending quality time with her pets, who truly filled her heart.

Deborah was preceded in death by her mother, Captolia Aribella (Gerow) Dupre, father, James Kent Gerow, her sister, Kelli Dupre, mother-in-law, Alberta Rose Howard and love of her life, Phillip Terry Howard. Deborah was survived by her step-mother, Patricia Gerow, and step father, Ray Dupre; 3 children, Phillip Terry (Kristina) Howard Jr., Darlene Marie Howard and Jill Diana Howard; 2 brothers, James Kent Gerow Jr., Michael (Barbara) Gerow, and 5 sisters, Angela (Joel) Caraher, Bonnie (Gary) Taylor, Jaime (Michael) Frost, Staci (Craig) Smith, Shelli (Tom) Ford; 7 grandchildren, Bethany and her boyfriend, Nicholas, Samantha and her boyfriend, Noah, Ricky, Matthew, Andrew, Kailey and Skailah; 4 great- grandchildren Nathan, Lillyana, Isabella, and Blake; many loving aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews; lifelong friend Kathy Littrel, who we could not have survived the last eight months without; and of course her fur babies, Tommy, Snowy, Miss Wang, and Jasmine.

Deborah was also lovingly known as "Nonny" to her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Our beloved Nonny will always be remembered for loving her family and pets deeply, enjoying an array of Florida sports, and always helping those she loved when they were in need.
The Catholic remembrance service for Deborah Ann (Gerow) Howard will be held at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church, Waterville, NY on Wednesday July 2nd, 2025, at 10:00am. A celebration of life will be held at Hotel Solsville after Deborah's service at 11:30am. The family would love for all who knew and loved Deborah to attend. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The ALS Association to help raise awareness and find a cure for ALS.