Dena Lee Ewing's Obituary
Age 68, of Michigan Center, passed away on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at Henry Ford Allegiance Health due to cardiac health issues. Dena was born in Kalamazoo, the daughter of William and Leora (Samuels) DeBack. She graduated from Parkside High School in 1971 and went on to have a long career as a beautician and hair stylist, having worked around the Jackson area all those years. On February 10, 2012, Dena and Tom Ewing were married in Jackson.
Dena is survived by her beloved husband, Tom; two daughters, Lora Sussex (Mark Hough) and Alicia Sussex (Troy VanAntwerp); step-son, Andrew Thomas Gary Ewing; former step-daughters, Melissa (John III) Dillay and Jessica Naylor (Jeff Endreszl); "son-in-law", Randy Brier; five grandchildren, Tavian, Carson, Madison, Ashton and Jacob; her mother, Leora DeBack; brother, William (Susie) DeBack; four sisters, Karen DeBack, Deborah DeRushia, Susan Wade (Alan) and Sandra Knight; special nieces and nephews and their families, Jessica Fields, Danielle DeLeon, Abigail Brown, Kimberly Myers, A.J. Wade, Kevin Snow, Paul Snow, Alex DeBack, Chase DeBack, Brian DeRushia and Brett DeRushia; father-in-law, Paul Ewing; brother-in-law, Chuck (Vickie) Ewing; extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia "Tricia" Sussex in 2020; nephew, Kevin Myers; father, William DeBack; mother-in-law, Marilyn Ewing; brothers-in-law, Dave DeRushia and Mike Knight.
Dena was a sports enthusiast, playing in several softball, golf and bowling leagues. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed crafts of all types. She was a member of the Jackson County Women's Golf Association and the Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild. Dena truly enjoyed her time with Tom and their time living on Michigan Center Lake.
Cremation has taken place and a time to remember and celebrate Dena's life will be held with a casual visitation at Arthur-Day Funeral Home on Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A service led by Alan Wade to begin at 2:30 pm. For those who wish, contributions to the American Heart Association in Dena's memory may be given to https://mygiving.heart.org/-/NVSDSEQB
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