Ms. Debra Lea Partenheimer Turner, 65, of Hartwell, passed away Friday, August 16, 2024 at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital.

Born on April 3, 1959 in Sewickley, PA, she was the daughter of the late Stanwood W. Partenheimer and Dorothy Beall (Johnson) Partenheimer.  Debra graduated from Gettysburg College with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Having attended Sewickley Academy from grades K-12, Debra accepted her first teaching and coaching position at Sewickley Academy, where her father also taught.

Debra later went on to become a Park Ranger at Grand Teton National Park. She met her first husband, Jerry Cantu, who also worked with the Park Service. Debra earned a seasonal position where she patrolled the park roads as a uniformed officer, patrolled the Snake River on rafts, and worked as a dispatcher for the Park Police. After moving to Utah, Debra was an Outreach Specialist at Bryce Canyon National Park sharing her love of the park with local school students. It was at the gift shop in the park that Debra met Tom Turner. They were married in Jupiter, FL and moved to Winter Park, FL. Debra moved to Hartwell, GA after Tom's unexpected death in 2015.

Debra loved Camping, Hiking, Traveling, Kayaking, Golf, Tennis, and playing Pickle ball at the YMCA.  She also attended the Hartwell First Methodist Church. She was involved in community support and fundraisers fighting against breast cancer, which she personally fought against. Debra was then diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November 2022. She was determined to survive this second attack and fought valiantly. As an accomplished athlete herself, she left it all on the field.

Debra is survived by her son: Benjamin Cantu of Mt. Juliet TN; her daughter: Christina Cantu of Louisville KY; her grandson: Dakota Davis of Louisville, KY; her step-daughter: Morgan Turner of HI; her dog: Frank; her three brothers: Steve Partenheimer (Linda) of Apex, NC, Kim Partenheimer (Joyce) of Pawleys Island, SC and Hal Partenheimer (Linda) of Trophy Club, TX; her four nieces and two nephews; and her dear friend and close companion: Ricky Sanders of Hartwell, GA.

Debra wished to be cremated. A memorial service to celebrate Debra's life will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Hartwell First Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In Harmony with Nature Wolf Sanctuary located at 5725 N. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32818, (407) 495-8954 (https://www.ihwn.org/get-involved), or Hartwell First Methodist Church located at 200 E Howell Street, Hartwell, GA 30643, (706) 376-3164.

The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.