Deborah Kay Fountain

Deborah Kay (Harris) Fountain, 60, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away on August 8, 2026, surrounded by the love of the family she spent her life loving so fiercely.

Deborah married her high school sweetheart, Jack Raymond Fountain Jr., on July 7, 1984. Their 42 years of marriage brought many chapters. Through all of life's changes and challenges, they remained by one another's side, building a life and family together that spanned more than four decades.

In the early years of their marriage, Jack's military career took their family from place to place. Through moves, changing jobs, and all the challenges and joys that came with building a life together, they raised two daughters and a son: Barbara (Logan) Brown, Jodie (Shane) Everhart, and Kasey Fountain. Their family later grew to include four grandchildren—Major, Lilith, and Cillian Everhart and Harris Brown—who brought Deborah tremendous joy.

Stubborn from the time she was a little girl, Deborah grew into a strong-willed woman who was never shy about sharing her opinion—whether you had asked for it or not. She was funny and quick-witted, always ready with a comeback, a silly face, or something to make the people around her laugh. When Deborah set her mind to something, there wasn't much that could stop her.

As a mother, Deborah set clear boundaries and expected her children to follow them, but she was also the mom who would do absolutely anything for them. She worked hard to make sure her children had not only what they needed, but the things they wanted too. Above all, she showed her love by being there. Her children always knew that when they truly needed their mom, she would be there.

Family and friends were at the center of Deborah's world. She loved fishing, boating, camping, road trips, traveling somewhere new, and playing games—although her competitive streak, inherited from her mother, meant a simple game could quickly become serious business. She loved chocolate, Conway Twitty, laughter, and making memories. Her favorite place was never really one particular destination; it was wherever her family and friends happened to be.

Later in life, Deborah decided to go back to school and pursue a career in nursing. Intelligent, determined, hardworking, and never afraid of a challenge, she became a nurse and continued her education to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi—an accomplishment she worked incredibly hard for.

Deborah spent many years as an emergency room nurse at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. She loved the people she worked with and found a place where her intelligence, strength, quick wit, and ability to handle just about anything were put to good use. The emergency room was a fitting place for someone who could think on her feet, handle pressure, and still find a reason to laugh.

Deborah spent much of her life taking care of others, first as a wife and mother and later as a nurse. Accepting that she needed to be cared for herself was never easy for someone as independent and strong-willed as she was. As her illness progressed, Jack took on more and more of that responsibility, eventually becoming her primary caregiver. It was a role neither of them had ever expected or wanted but seeing him care for her through those difficult years was a reminder of the love and commitment that carried them through 42 years of marriage. She was also incredibly grateful for the love, help, and support of her sisters, who were there for her throughout her illness and helped care for her when she needed them most.

Deborah was preceded in death by her beloved daddy, Lloyd Harris.

She leaves behind her husband, Jack Raymond Fountain Jr.; her daughters, Barbara (Logan) Brown and Jodie (Shane) Everhart; her son, Kasey Fountain; her grandchildren, Major, Lilith, and Cillian Everhart and Harris Brown; her mother, Theresa Harris; and her siblings, David (Carol) Harris, Daniel Harris, Sandra (Dale) Ladner, Cindy (Joni) Harris, Lindy (Jeff) Stewart, and Ray Harris. She also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, former coworkers, and countless others whose lives were made better simply by knowing her.

Deborah's life cannot be summed up by the illness she endured or the accomplishments she achieved. She will be remembered in the stories her family tells, in the laughter around a table during a competitive game, in a Conway Twitty song playing on the radio, in a piece of chocolate someone knows she would have loved, and in every family trip where someone inevitably thinks, “Mom would have loved this.”

Most of all, she will live on through the family she loved, protected, provided for, worried about, laughed with, occasionally fussed at, freely gave her opinion to, and loved with everything she had.

She was deeply loved, and she will be deeply missed.

A private celebration of Deborah's life will be held for close family and friends. The family appreciates the love, support, and kindness shown to them during this difficult time.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd., in West Jackson County is honored to serve the Fountain family during this most difficult time. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting our website at www.riemannfamily.com