Deborah "Debbie" Rose Santa Cruz Mallette

Deborah “Debbie” Rose Santa Cruz Mallette, 68, of D’Iberville, MS left this Earth and entered heaven Sunday, February 28, 2021. Debbie was born on November 30, 1952 to Vernon W. Santa Cruz and Shirley Rose Seymour Santa Cruz. She was raised with her sisters, Bonnie C. Santa Cruz Bishop, Melanie P. Santa Cruz Lane, and Shirley R. Santa Cruz Caddell and vast extended family on Back Bay Biloxi where she lived most of her days. She graduated from Sacred Heart Girls High School in 1970 where she served 6 years as a member of the kiltie band and the captain her senior year. She attended and graduated from MGCCC during which time she was a member of the Band of Gold. Debbie retired from a 39-year career at Blossman Gas Company and was later owner operator of M&M Trucking with her husband, Bobby. A lover of all things outdoors, she was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt. Being the daddy’s girl that she was, she spent many of her days by his side on the “Easy Money” catching trout at Graveline as well as shrimping and learning to cull oysters. Their time together was a source of great memories for her throughout the years and lived in the stories she would tell. Debbie was a devoted wife and caretaker to her late husband, Robert D Mallette of Vancleave, MS. They were married 29 years and together had their son, Garth Vernon Mallette and step-sons, Robert and Bufford Mallette. Garth was the light of her life and all knew it. She was an exceptional mother as well as grandmother to her “Buttercup” Pax (Paxlynn) Mallette. The two of them were often together and shared many walks to the beach to visit Mr. Beard and porch baths “swimming in the Lowe’s bucket.” If there ever were a more joyful soul, it would be hard to find. Her smile was contagious, her laughter infectious, and her heart was nothing short of gold. Debbie had a servant’s heart and was always looking after others. She was an exceptional caretaker to her elderly mother, Shirley, and ensured she never went without. She loved her family, her sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren fiercely. She had many dear friends, some of which she considered family, such as Barbara Jean Taylor. Debbie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D Mallette; father, Vernon W Santa Cruz; sister, Bonnie C. Santa Cruz Bishop; paternal grandfather, Peter W. Santa Cruz; paternal grandmother, Philomena Santa Cruz; maternal grandfather, Lee Seymour; and maternal grandmother, Eula Lawrence Seymour. In Lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in her memory. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 11am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Santa Cruz Cemetery. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi, is honored to serve the Mallette family.