HARTWICK – Debra M. “Debbie” Ward, 68, a long-time resident of West Hill in Hartwick, peacefully entered into eternal life Friday evening, May 22, 2026, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown after a valiant battle with cancer. She is now at rest with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A native of New Jersey, Debra Ann was born December 18,
1957, in Oakland, a daughter of Paul L. Montanya, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Moser
Montanya. She was a graduate of Indian Hills High School in Oakland.
When she was nine, she entered a school contest to write a
letter to someone far away, with the prize going to the writer of the letter
that went the farthest. Debbie chose Grant C. Ward, a family friend who was a
young sailor in the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and won the contest.
Years later the two met and were married October 15, 1977, in a ceremony at The
First Baptist Church of Hartwick with the Rev. Charles B. Capper officiating.
Debbie enjoyed caring for their home, loved scrapbooking and
felting. She canned home grown vegetables, 50+ quarts of tomatoes and green
beans every year. Debbie also loved hunting and fishing. She would often shed a
tear over a deer she had shot, but would then jump right into doing the dirty
work of field dressing. Debbie and Grant also taught a Bow Hunters Safety
Course for nineteen years.
Debbie held a special place in her heart for all her pets
over the years.
The most important part of Debbie’s life was being a born
again Christian. She was a faithful and devoted member of The First Baptist
Church of Hartwick, serving as church treasurer and youth leader. She also lead
the devotional at Ladies Crafternoon.
Debbie will be greatly missed by her family and friends and
the entire Hartwick community.
Debbie is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 48
years, Grant, of Hartwick; her sister, Mary Ellen Montanya of Hartwick; her
brother, Paul J. Montanya of Bloomville and his daughter, Alicia Hartley and
her family of Hartsville, South Carolina; Paul Conn, Cherie Conn and many
aunts, uncles, cousins and her Church Family. She also leaves behind her dog,
Dixie.
She was predeceased by her mother, Mary, who died January 5,
1970, and her father, Paul, who died November 19, 1980, and her brother Paul's
companion of 36 years, Kathy Conn died January 4, 2025.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June
13, 2026, at The First Baptist Church of Hartwick, with Pastor Philip Sell
officiating.
A reception will be held at the Hartwick Fire Department
after the memorial service.
She will be privately laid to rest in Hartwick Cemetery at a
later date.
Memorial donations may be made to The First Baptist Church
of Hartwick, 3110 County Highway 11, Hartwick, NY 13348.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell,
Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
