Deborah Hawkins-Kartchner, 61, of Newton, Iowa, passed peacefully from this earth on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Those left to honor her memory are not only her daughter and four grandchildren but many others who saw her not only as a friend but as a mother or grandmother as well. A caregiver at heart, she could always be counted on to help a friend in need.
She loved spending time outdoors in her garden and often she could be found tending to all of the neighborhoods stray animals. She was also an avid reader with a love of learning and was very close to completing a degree in psychology. Her last years were spent happily surrounded by her four grandchildren, spoiling them rotten and filling them with sugar laden candies, doughnuts and Pepsi. Needless to say, they will miss her a great deal, as will we all.
A memorial celebration will be held in Debbie’s honor at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the UAW Hall in Newton, Iowa. Friends and family are invited to come together to share a casual lunch, memories, laughter and condolences. For further information, please contact her daughter, Carisa Miller, via email at notjustastring@gmail.com.
— Newton Daily News, April 2, 2013