MARY ELLEN DEFFEBACH CRIBBS, 87, entered
the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
passing peacefully at home with her daughters and
granddaughters by her side, with burial at Hillcrest
Garden of Memory in Hillsboro, TX.
Mary Ellen was born in Ranger, TX, on June 7, 1938,
to Arthur Stevens Deffebach (RHS-1930) & Mary Edwina
(Williams)(RHS Faculty) Deffebach. She grew up in
Ranger learning to play the piano, flute and organ.
She graduated from Ranger High School in 1956 as
valedictorian of her class, following in her father's
footsteps. She attended McMurry College in Abilene,
TX, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor's degree in
music. While in college at McMurry, she met the love
of her life, Jimmy Alton Cribbs. They were married
in Feb. of 1960, at First Methodist Church in Ranger.
She was a music educator and church organist. After
retiring, she continued as a church organist wherever
they were living. Her hobbies and interests included
playing piano, flute and organ, sewing, knitting,
crafting, & spending time with family. In retirement,
she and her husband traveled all over the U.S. in
their Airstream. She was a lifelong Methodist and a
member of Crawford Methodist Church at the time of
her passing.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two
years, Jim, and her parents.
Survivors include her three children, Vicki Cribbs Berry
and husband Kent, Donna Cribbs Latham and husband Rob,
and Steven Cribbs and wife Connie, as well as 10 grand-
children, Stephanie and husband Bryan, Bethany, Ben and
wife Callye, Lori, Brittany and husband Trent, Heather
and husband Dom, Matthew and wife Madalyn, Josh and wife
Heather, Seth, and Makenna, and 14 great-grandchildren,
Mackenzie, Gareth, Benny, Leighton, Olivia, Laurel,
Penelope, Blaze, Atticus, Luke, Ezekiel, Wade, Weslie,
and Baby Cribbs due June. She is also survived by her
brother, Don Deffebach (RHS-1958) brother-in-law Gene
Cribbs and his partner Jean, and cousins, a niece, and
nephews.
HUSBAND: JIMMY ALTON CRIBBS, 86, of Hillsboro,
TX, passed away Feb. 13, 2022, at his home, with burial
at Hillcrest Garden of Memory in Hillsboro.
Jimmy was born Sept. 30, 1935, in Paducah, TX to Alfred
Newton & Jimmie Vera (McClung) Cribbs. He grew up in
Paducah, graduating from Paducah High School in 1953.
He attended McMurray College in Abilene, TX, where he
received his bachelor's degree in 1958. During college,
he attended Army boot camp at Fort Chaffey, AR. He
served in the National Guard for eight years & obtained
the rank of Staff Sergeant. Jimmy was united in marriage
to Mary Ellen Deffebach, his high school sweetheart, in
Feb. of 1960, in Ranger, TX. An insurance adjuster for
most of his career, he lived in several different towns
in West Texas before settling in Hillsboro in 2013. He
became a member of the Wally Byam International Travel
Club and was an avid Airstreamer.?He served as president
of the club several times at the local level and was a
member of the International Airstream band, playing the
baritone. Wherever they lived, he served in his church
and always enjoyed singing in the choir. He also loved
to ride his bicycle, playing joker and chess. He was also
a member of the NATC in Hillsboro & a member of the ping
pong club at Traveler's Rest Resort in Florida.
Preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy is survived by
his wife, Mary Ellen Cribbs; his children, Vicki Gene
Berry and her husband Rev. Kent Berry, Donna Elaine
Latham and her husband Robert, and Steven Alton Cribbs
and his wife, Connie; his brother, Gene Bob Cribbs and
his wife, Jean: ten grandchildren, Stephanie Lesniewski
and her husband, Bryan, Bethany Jordan, Benjamin Berry
and his wife, Callye, Lori Powell and her husband, J.R.,
Brittany Smith and her husband, Trent, Heather Latham
and her fiancé, Dom Alacorn, Matthew Latham and his
fiancée, Madalyn Sprague, Joshua Cribbs, Seth Cribbs,
and Makenna Cribbs; and thirteen great-grandchildren.