Debra D. Cansler Gillespie, 50, of Greene County, died Sunday at Johnson City Medical Center after what her family said was "a courageous battle against a sudden fatal toxic syndrome."

Her family provided the following statement about her life:

"A 1976 graduate of West Greene High School, Deb was proudly employed at Greene Valley Developmental Center for more than 30 years, where she spent her career helping those who needed help the most.

"She was a born-again Christian who professed deep and sincere love for her God, her family, her community, all religions, and mother nature.

"She was enthusiastically made a member of Oak City Baptist Church with her daughter to be closer to her family in Seymour.

"She felt a special spiritual bond to all the friends she has at First Church of God and Christ United Methodist Church in Greeneville.

"Deb loved Greeneville and Greene County because of the friendliness of the people here, her appreciation for all four seasons, and her love of the majestic beauty of the mountains at her front door.

"She loved animals and wanted to rescue all the pets at the Animal Shelter, as evidenced by her special adoptions, including Hunter, Sammy, Harry, Fuzzy, Prissy and Grace.

"Deb was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, and advocate for the less fortunate.

"A friend to all, she was a person who made friends everywhere she went, and bonded quickly and strongly with a great many people.

"She will be truly missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love her."

She was preceded in death by her father, Mont G. Cansler Jr.; her mother, Minnie Cansler Lister; and her brother: Ernest Blaine Cansler.

Survivors include: her husband: Bryan Gillespie; "a loving daughter and our hero": Christen Brianne-Alene Gillespie, also of the home; a "loving stepson": Joshua Ryan Gillespie; three brothers and two sisters-in-law: Terry E. and Carolyn Cansler, Timothy A. Cansler, and Monte E. and Virginia Cansler, all of Greene County; a sister and her husband: Beverly Diane and Bradley Bowers of Greene County; her two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Gigi and Greg Householder of Seymour and Bob and Marsha Gillespie of Knoxville; her "very special" father-in-law and mother-in-law: "Poppy" and "Nanny," former Greeneville residents Charles Bryan and Barbara Wilder Gillespie of Seymour; special aunts and uncles: Joe and Shirley Cansler of Midway, Alvin and Ruth Banks of Fort Ogden, Fla., Larry and Winnie Ledford of Johnson City, B.L. "Pete" and Joan Wilder and the Rev. Bruce and Patty Wilder, all of Kingsport, and Gerald and Jean Winstead of Rogersville; numerous special nieces and nephews and special great-nieces and great-nephews including: Buck and Chris Householder and their daughters Bailey and Rachael, and Renee Householder, all of Seymour; Recilla Nicole Rigsby, Keith Cansler, Crystal Cansler, Jonas Cansler, Terri Cansler, Elijah Cansler, Jessica Fair, Monte Allen Cansler, Candi Cansler, Amanda Cansler, Jacob Cansler, Keith Cansler, Alec M. Cansler, Morgan Jade Cansler, and numerous other members of her extended family; her special friends: Debbie and Bob Ottinger and daughter Candice; Claire and Sam Showman and son Dylan; Dana and Chris Fails; and Marshall and Mary Ann Brown and daughter Maci, all of Greene County; Billie O'Connor, of Florida; and all her friends and co-workers at GVDC; special friends of the family: Megan Annette Davis of Greene County, and Shane Carlson, of Seymour; and special caregivers: Dr. Brad Strange and his staff of Greeneville, and Dr. Colleen Smith and her staff of Johnson City.

Her family said that, "At her request, Deb was an organ donor and wished to be cremated, and it is hoped that her gift at this holiest time of the year will benefit many individuals who deserve a Christmas gift of a better life.

"Deb did not want a funeral, but would want all her friends to join her family in a Celebration of Her Life."

A celebration of life service will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Andrew Johnson Women's Clubhouse.

All friends and family are invited to arrive at 2 o'clock and remain as long as they wish.

The family continued, "She requested that anyone wishing to make memorial contributions give them to the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society's Animal Shelter, and would urge all her friends to adopt a pet in her memory, or contribute to the Coal Fund to help those in need stay warm this winter."