Debra Jean Hartin

Debra Jean Hartin, 58, passed away June 15, 2016 in Mesa, AZ with her family by her side. She was born September 7, 1957 in Minneapolis, MN to Verdun Pershing and Lois Ann [Fournier] Hartin. Debra graduated from Irondale High School in New Brighton, MN where she grew up. During high school, she was on the swim team and mastered numerous forms of swimming; her favorite being freestyle. She was inducted in to the Irondale Athletic Hall of Fame for swimming in 2005.

Following high school, Debra moved to Arizona where she continued her education; she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work as well as her Master’s in Psychology at ASU. Debra always loved a challenge and always wanted to learn more so she continued her education further. Throughout her life, Debra held various jobs from a substitute teacher while her children were younger to Probation Officer at the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center for 18 years and then on to become a Detective with the Gilbert Police Dept. for the last 13 years.

Debra was a loving, caring, compassionate woman who had a zest for life and also an edge of toughness. Throughout her life she had various interests from hiking, camping and especially kayaking to raising bees for many years. She loved writing short stories, reading and mastering board games; she even learned how to speak Gaelic just for the fun of it.

Debra is survived by her husband Andrew Koontz; children Donovan (Jessica) Koontz; Taylor (John) Mahoney and Torin Koontz; one grandchild, Lyric Koontz; her brothers Terry (Mary), John (Bev) and Jeff (Julie); sister Sarah Hartin and Kathy (Gary) Danger as well as numerous nieces, nephew, aunts uncles; her police dept. brothers and sisters as well as her extended family.

A funeral service will be held at 9:00am, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Highland High School, 4301 E Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234. Following the service, there will be a procession to the Gilbert Police Department where final honors will be given. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Debra’s name to: Childhelp Children’s Center of AZ www.childhelp.org/donate or mail to: 4350 E Camelback Rd. Suite# F250, Phoenix, AZ 85018