Deanna O’Haugherty

It is well with my soul. That’s what Deanna O’Haugherty would tell you. And so, it’s fitting that she went to her heavenly home on May 10th to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She lived a full life of 87 years after having been born in February 1938 as the eldest daughter to parents Culver and Beedie Austin in Lubbock County, Texas. First and foremost, she began her journey with the Lord during her childhood.

She was raised with her younger sister Teressa on a farm outside of Lubbock. Her family sharecropped, ran a dairy, raised cotton and bred greyhound dogs. She learned the value of hard work while working in the fields doing hard labor.

She graduated from Tom S. Lubbock High School in 1956, but not before John O’Haugherty found out her name and crafted a way to meet her, since she was a year older. John also noted that she was a runner-up in the local beauty pageant that year. They both attended Texas Tech University, where she earned a secretarial degree.

Deanna and John married in September 1959 and spent more than 65 wonderful years together. The Lord blessed John and her with two sons, Jeffrey and David. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially watching her boys play sports. She was even known to run down the sidelines with her boys during football games.

Her boys had boys of their own, her grandsons Jay, Matt, Cole and Keegan. And keeping the male O’Haugherty tradition alive, Matt recently added her great grandson Wyatt to the family. All in, she played a pivotal role in raising seven boys, including John too of course. A daughter-in-law Janelle and grand-daughter-in-law Michelle joined the O’Haugherty clan, offering Deanna some female companionship amongst all the males.

Although she diligently performed key roles as administrative assistant and property manager at various companies throughout the years, Deanna would tell you her favorite job was being a mother and grandmother. Through and through. She was a mama bear looking out for her cubs and always protecting and guiding them as they grew up.

At the same time, she also would tell you she was a child of God. She did so many things in her life to honor the Lord and his goodness that’s available to everyone. She took her sons to church services and activities at least five times each week. She volunteered at church for over 25 years in various cities – including serving as a Sunday School teacher, a greeter and many other roles. And she loved to sing praises to the glory of God, which we imagine she continues to do to this very day.