Debra R. Mcgaughy

Debra R. (Birchell) McGaughy, 69, of Moline, Illinois, died Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Rock Island.

A hospitality gathering to celebrate Debra’s life will be 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 8, at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, with a time of sharing for family and friends to take place at 4:00 p.m. Cremation will take place prior to services with private burial at Viola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Milan.

The former Debra Rae Birchell was born February 23, 1953, in Moline, the daughter of Emmanuel “Manny” and Beverly Mae (Anderson) Birchell. She graduated in 1971 from Winola High School in Viola. She married John McGaughy on January 4, 2001, in Rock Island, Illinois. Previously she had been married to Terry Luxmore, with whom she had a son, Steven, before divorcing.

Debra started working in the food services area at a very early age. She worked many jobs at Haps Drive In in Viola during high school. She continued working as a waitress in Colorado Springs and Denver for five years and then in Mesa, Arizona for an additional three years.

She obtained her Arizona real estate license prior to returning to the Quad Cities, and then gained her Illinois real estate license. She worked for the Mel Foster Company Rock Island office. Later, she began working as a mortgage lender for various mortgage companies, specializing in loans for veterans. She retired in 2011.

Debra was a knowledgeable football fan who always rooted for her Denver Broncos. She was especially proud of the Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII winning Broncos teams. She even had a special Bronco rock to rub for luck in tight games!

Debra is survived by her husband, John; a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Christina Luxmore of Colona, Illinois; a step-son, Shayne (Gail) McGaughy of Johnston, Iowa; grandchildren, Connor Luxmore, Alyssa Luxmore, and Max and Alek McGaughy; sisters, Karen (Jack) Clark of Pensacola, Florida, Sandy (Ken) Benningfield of Andalusia, Illinois, and Cherie (Ed) Oliver of Coal Valley, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Brenda Knoche.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.