Deborah Lou Willhoite (Rowse)

Deborah Willhoite (Rowse), of Mt. Dora, passed away on September 28, 2026, at the age of 72. Born on July 15, 1954, she was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and to everyone fortunate enough to know her, she was simply one of the best people ever. Her life was a testament to the quiet power of love freely given, and her absence leaves an ache that will be felt for a very long time.

Those who loved Deborah will tell you that her goodness was not something she spoke about. It was something she lived. She put everyone else before herself, so naturally and so often that it seemed to be the very shape of who she was. A kind word, a helping hand, a seat at her table, a moment of her full attention: these were the gifts she gave without hesitation, and they made the people around her feel seen and cherished.

Her family was the center of her world. She shared her life with her beloved husband, Jack Willhoite, whose partnership was a source of joy and steadiness through the years. She was a devoted mother to her daughter, Heidi Seifts, and her son, Robert Reichert, who carry her warmth and her lessons with them. Deborah adored her grandchildren, Ryan Reichert, Blaze Reichert, Taylor Guidi, Emma Seifts, Parker Seifts, Aiden Seifts, Chase Lee, Dayton Reichert, and Hope Wilt, and she delighted in each of them as the unique people they are. As a great-grandmother, she watched her family grow into yet another generation, and nothing filled her heart more than knowing that the love she had poured out was still blossoming in the lives of those who came after her.

If Deborah had a life's work, it was her family. She was very adventurous and loving, and she put her all into the people she cared for. Over the many years she gave to them, she offered her time, her energy, and her heart without ever keeping count. Her adventurous spirit kept life interesting and full of possibility, while her loving nature made sure no one ever felt left behind. The span of those years, decade after decade of showing up for the people she loved, is perhaps her greatest accomplishment.

Deborah had a deep love for anything vintage. She saw beauty and stories in things from another time, and she appreciated the craftsmanship and character that older pieces held. Sewing was another of her great passions, and there was something fitting about a woman who spent her life stitching her family together also finding joy in needle and thread.

She also loved arts and crafts, and her creativity was a constant presence in her home. Whether she was working on a small project or something more ambitious, she brought patience and imagination to everything she made. DIY projects were a particular joy for her. She loved taking an idea and making it real with her own two hands, and her willingness to dive in and try something new reflected the same adventurous heart that her family knew so well.

Beyond the things she made, Deborah left behind something even more lasting. She taught her family such valuable lessons, not through lectures but through example: how to love generously, how to put others first, how to approach life with curiosity and courage. Those lessons will continue to guide the people she loved in the years ahead, and in that way, she remains with them still.

Deborah was the most amazing person, and she is missed dearly by her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and all who were touched by her kindness. Though her time with them has ended, her love has not. She will always be in their hearts.