Debra Kate Maxcey Cooksey, a devoted educator, loving mother, and cherished grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2025, in Olathe, Kansas, surrounded by her daughter and beloved family. She was 72.
Debra was born on September 8, 1952, in Brady, Texas, and raised in the close-knit community of Richland Springs. The daughter of BJ and Renée Maxcey, she was instilled with a strong sense of faith, service, and compassion that shaped her life’s work and relationships.
A lifelong learner and passionate teacher, Debra graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in elementary education. She continued her academic journey by earning two master’s degrees—one in elementary education and another in special education— equipping her to better serve the children to whom she dedicated nearly 40 years of her career. Her greatest professional passion was working with children with special needs, and her classroom became a place of trust, encouragement, and belonging for countless students and their families.
Debra was preceded in death by her parents, BJ and Renée Maxcey of Richland Springs, Texas. She is survived by her daughter, Brionna Cooksey Smith, and her grandson, Gunnar Tomas Joe Smith, both of Raymore, Missouri; as well as her brother, Michael Maxcey of Richland Springs, Texas.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Richland Springs Cemetery, where Debra will be laid to rest beside her parents and among generations of extended family, in the town that raised her and that she always called home.
Debra’s legacy is one of quiet strength, dedicated service, and unconditional love. She leaves behind not only her family, but also the many lives she uplifted with her kindness, her wisdom, and her unwavering belief in the potential of every child.