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Burl Stricker
Burl Stricker is a compassionate leader, ordained minister, and advocate for mental health. As the Co-Founder and President of Even One Less, Burl channels his personal experiences into a mission of awareness, prevention, and elimination of suicide. His journey has been deeply shaped by the profound impact of suicide on his family and career.
Burl's Journey
At the age of 17, Burl faced the darkness of despair firsthand, surviving a suicide attempt. Tragically, the shadows of suicide would touch his life multiple times. His paternal grandfather, faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis, chose this path. Later, Burl experienced the loss of his youngest and older cousins to suicide. The toll continued as a trainee in healthcare administration, under Burl's mentorship, succumbed to the same silent struggle.
Beyond his commitment to mental health advocacy, Burl is an ordained minister, providing counseling, mentorship, teaching, and officiating events. A recovering alcoholic, Burl has discovered hope and support through the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Burl holds a degree in Accounting from Texas Tech University and a Masters in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University. His academic journey laid the foundation for a 24-year career in healthcare, where he tirelessly advocated for improved treatment and care for the elderly.
In addition to his advocacy work, Burl wears many hats as a realtor, auctioneer, podcaster and entrepreneur. His diverse skill set reflects a commitment to making a positive impact in various facets of life.
Burl shares his life with his wife Stacey and their seven children, ranging in ages from 15 to 28, along with a cherished grandchild. Together, they form a tight-knit community committed to supporting each other and creating positive change.
Burl Stricker's story is one of resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of others. Through Even One Less and his multifaceted endeavors, Burl strives to bring hope, support, and a sense of community to those who need it most.
Debby Sifuentes
Debby is Co-founder and Vice President of Even One Less. The loss of both of her boys to suicide changed the course of an entire family's lives, and she advocates to raise awareness of facts, and busting myths about suicide.
Debby's Journey
Debby Sifuentes, Co-Founder of Even One Less, was born in New Mexico but has been a resident of
Midland Texas for 36 years. She worked for the Midland Reporter-Telegram in the Accounting
Department for 20 of her 25 years with the MRT, retiring in 2013.
In early 2001, Debby’s first husband died of a massive heart attack. They had 2 young adult sons that
could share her grief but God did not intend for Debby to be alone for very long. Ruben Sifuentes was
about to enter her life so unexpectedly that it had have been orchestrated by God. They were married in
late 2002. While Ruben may not be her son’s biological Father, he was someone they respected and
looked up to. They knew their Mom was loved and very happy.
Following her retirement, she began working as an Administrative Assistant in the Environmental field.
She and her husband Ruben are active members of their church. Ruben serves as Deacon, Debby as
church pianist and until recently was church Treasurer, stepping down in 10/2023 to allow time to devote
to Even One Less.
Debby’s youngest son, Justin, died by suicide in 2011, at 30 years old. He left 2 young children, both now
young adults. As much as that should be enough to want to start a suicide awareness and prevention
vision in 2021, 10 years after the death of her youngest son, her oldest son, Darrell, also died by suicide.
Darrell initially survived but his life was only sustainable with life support. Because Darrell was an organ
donor, the family including 2 young adults and one young child, made the difficult decision to remove him
from life support and donate his organs.
The family was devastated. Debby and Ruben have lost both sons, Darrell’s 3 kids lost their father and
members of our family and friends suffered a loss that could not be explained.
Just the word suicide was hard to speak but because of that stigma that surrounded them, the immediate
family which including Darrell’s 2 young adult daughters, his pre-teen son, Debby and her Nephew, Burl,
decided to move towards starting a not-for-profit. Burl, who was as close to Justin and Darrell as any
brother would be started blasting social media with Tiktoks with pictures of what this family went through.
Pictures that would get attention to the negatives of suicide. More than one posting went viral.
Believing their voice was being heard, in 2023, Even One Less, was established. The name is self
explanatory but Debby and Burl believed if one person heard their story and the resources that are
available, perhaps one less person would choose suicide and one less family would go through the
devastation of suicide.