Obituary of Debra Darlene Chappell-McIntosh
Debra Darlene Chappell, daughter of the late William and Olivia (Walker) Chappell, was born on January 23, 1957, in Monroe, Michigan. She attended Monroe High School. As a young woman, Debra was employed at Union Camp papermill in Monroe. She later worked for the Head Start program at Monroe Public Schools where she was very proud to have taught her nephew, Brian, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Debra was a lifelong member of Carey Chapel A.M.E. Church in Monroe, where she faithfully worshipped alongside her family until its closing.
After sixteen years of courtship, Debra wed the love of her life, Carl McIntosh, on New Year’s Eve 1996. Together, the couple were blessed with three sons and a daughter. She prided herself in caring for home and family, especially her visually impaired son, Chris, into his adulthood. Debra utilized her green thumb to grow a beautiful variety of flowers and a bountiful vegetable garden every year. She knew her way around the kitchen and was well known for her delicious Mexican cuisine and beef roast. Debra even perfected the McIntosh family’s beef wellington recipe passed down from Carl’s cousin in Oklahoma. A fan of the flutist Alexander Zonjic, she looked forward to attending the annual Jazz Fest in Monroe to watch him perform. Debra also never missed watching the daily soaps, or her “stories”, as she called them.
Debra often had packages arriving on her doorstep from her catalog and online shopping habit. From head to toe, she had a great sense of style, always matching her hat to her purse to her shoes and never left home without a pair of earrings! Debra found creative ways to repurpose ordinary items and sewed aprons in varying patterns for everyone she knew. Always the life of the party, she decorated for every holiday, especially Christmas and Halloween. Debra could be seen on the front porch of her home every October 31st passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters and welcoming her family inside for hot dogs and chips. The great nieces and nephews made sure to visit as they knew they were sure to receive an extra special treat from their Aunt Debra.
Debra Darlene Chappell-McIntosh, age 67, of Monroe, answered the call of her Heavenly Father to come home on Tuesday; March 19, 2024. Debra was joined in Heaven with her parents: William and Olivia Chappell; her two sisters: Beverly Jean Pree and Gwendolyn Chappell; and her two brothers: William Gregory and Todd O’Neil Chappell.
To cherish her memory, she leaves her husband: Carl McIntosh; four children: Carl McIntosh Jr. of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Chris McIntosh of Monroe, Bradley McIntosh of Ypsilanti, and Amy McDonald of Ypsilanti; six grandchildren: Mercedes McIntosh and Korey, Kordney, Kasada, Kahlil, and Keri McDonald; three great grandchildren: A.J., Zion, and Naazier; her sister: Alice Jan Chappell; a sister in-law: Evelean McAllister; a brother in-law: Jesse (Carol) McIntosh Jr.; an aunt: Lucy Lang Chappell of Chicago; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins including Rosalind and Annette; special friends: Suzanne Hoye, Marquita Cheatham, Diane Toles, Lynn Goodloe, Sarita Toles, Esther Wise, Willie Johnson, and Val Campbell; and her family from Chicago, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Brooklyn, New York; and Laurel, Maryland.
Friends may gather on Thursday; March 28, 2024, from 11:00am until 1:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48161 (734) 241-7070. A Homegoing Celebration of Debra’s Life will begin at 1:00pm also at Merkle’s followed by a procession to Woodland Cemetery in Monroe for burial.
Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.