Deborah “Debbie” (Upton) Eaton

On August 31 , 2021 Deborah “Debbie” (Upton) Eaton, age 66, of Ruskin Florida, lost her monthlong battle to COVID-19. A fighter until the end, she passed away at South Bay Hospital with her two finest achievements by her side, her daughters Melissa (Brown) Sharp & Megan (Kishman) Scott.

Debbie retired from Ford Motor Company after 20+ years of dedicated service. She spent her retirement in Florida working various odd jobs such as a toll booth operator, spring training concession & as she called it “rent-a-cop” security for the Tampa Bay Rays. When she wasn’t at the ballpark telling people to empty their pockets and walk through, she was spending time helping her girls. She was the queen of washing dishes - some would say a dish washing connoisseur, attending family events, playing the lottery & working on some sort of project. She absolutely shined as Grandma to Alexa & Brayden Sharp and her 5 Granddogs.

She kept a tight circle of confidantes. Possibly her longest friendship was the one she held with her bud, Patty (Hall) Swanson. Their adventures ranged from helicopter rides, to trips to the Big Apple & swimming with dolphins. Debbie was fearless. Besides being basically fearless, she also marveled at being a prankster, excelling at sideways comments & always being game for anything. She was an avid reader, a loyal fan of Let’s make a Deal, Price is Right & Wheel of Fortune (unless it was best friends’ week). She was always willing to help. If you needed something, she’d find it, make it or borrow it. She’d always say, “I’m a Mom, that’s my job.” She was preceded in death by her parents Hoyle & Sally Upton and her brothers Larry & Mark Upton.

She will be greatly missed by her daughters Melissa (David) Sharp, Megan (Matthew) Scott; her adored grandchildren Alexa Sharp & Brayden Sharp; her baby brother Todd (Theresa) Upton; and her various nephews, nieces and extended family & friends.

As a single Mom, Debbie would sometimes work two or three jobs to make ends meet. In her later years, she always took the time to try to help a fellow single Mom.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking you to help a single Mom or donate on behalf of Debbie to one of the following charities: American Cancer Society, your local Hospice, local women’s center or buy a lottery scratch off. And please consider getting your COVID vaccine.