Debra Kathleen Herrman, 55, of Parsons went to be with Jesus at 7:27 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at her home surrounded by her loving family following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born April 7, 1956, in Vinita, Okla., to Charles Calvin and Betty Sue (Rader) Cooper. She attended Scandia High School in Scandia.

On Dec. 30, 1973, she married Eric Carl Herrman in Our Saviors’ Lutheran Church in Norway. During their marriage, they moved numerous times but had resided the last 13 years in Parsons.

She completed her GED in 1974. For several years, she worked as a nursing assistant to help finance her licensed practical nurse training and then her registered nurse training at Cloud County Community College. She later became a nurse manager for long-term care and recently completed her certified professional in healthcare risk management certification.

She loved being a nurse educator and helping others, especially the elderly. She especially enjoyed spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Debra’s hobbies included reading, collecting antique porcelain shoes and traveling.

She had attended the Assembly of God Church and the Church of the Nazarene, both in Parsons. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and CPHRM. She was currently employed by Adventist Care Centers as a risk manager for Texas and Kansas.

Survivors include her husband, Eric Herrman of the home; a son, Jeremiah Herrman and his wife, Deann, of Chandler, Ariz.; a daughter, Ingrid “Heidi” Kern and her husband, Jacob, of Marietta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Jack Kern, Gabriella Kern, Brayden Herrman and Evan Herrman; and a sister, Mary Hammerschmidt of Hays.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Darwin Ray Cooper and Manford “Lee” Roy Cooper; and a sister, Ramona Cooper.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Community Center in Norway. Burial will be in Norway Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons and from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Community Center in Norway.

Memorials are suggested to the Debra Herrman Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.