- Date Of Death: September 12, 2021
- State: Connecticut
Deborah Ann Mahar Morris of Keene, NH died suddenly at home on Sunday, September 12 surrounded by her family. Deb was born January 13, 1953 in Torrington, Connecticut to parents Lucille (Crehan) and J. Stanford Mahar. She attended Harwinton Consolidated School, Lewis S.
She worked for fourteen years at the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona running the transportation desk, and booking the iconic mule rides down the Bright Angel Trail. She ran Phantom Ranch for several years, hosting a steady stream of hikers at the floor of the canyon. She drove a Grand Canyon tour bus, sharing information about the natural and cultural history of the canyon. She loved every aspect of her life in the southwest and made lifelong friendships in what she considered her second home.
When she returned to New England, she earned her teaching certification and held middle school teaching positions in Trumbull Connecticut and at the Harry S. Fischer Middle School in Terryville, Connecticut. For the last fifteen years Deb was a member of the middle school faculty at Monadnock Regional Middle High School in Swanzey, New Hampshire. She was a dedicated, enthusiastic, upbeat educator who consistently made strong connections with her students. She had a special place for those who struggled the most and she made lasting relationships with her students and with her colleagues.
Deb was a mother figure and mentor to a whole variety of grateful young people over many years and will be remembered for her humor, devotion, support, and encouragement.
She supported all of her own children’s activities, cheering them on in Little League, Brownies, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, softball, cross country, bmx biking, and more. She had a life-long interest in Native American culture, the art of Georgia O’Keefe, books of every kind, and music.
She is survived by her four children: Amber Fields and her husband Alvin Fields of Keene, New Hampshire, Army Ranger, Sergeant Matthew Morris of Torrington, Connecticut, Joshua Mahar and his partner Rachel Gori of Goshen Connecticut, Lark Dorweiler and her husband Army Specialist Dorian Dorweiler of Denver, Colorado. Deb was deeply devoted to her seven grandchildren and she felt blessed that they were a central part of her life: Deja Fields, Daunte Fields, Dakota Fields, Dominic Fields, Aiden Fields, Dante Gori, and Abrah Dorweiler.
