Debra Kay Kocher

Debra Kay Kocher, age 70, of Deersville died at 11:39 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024 peacefully in her home.

Born June 2, 1953 in Pikeville, Kentucky; a daughter of the late Herbert May Woods Blankenship and Theresa Swiney Stoltz.

Kay was a sales clerk for Clarkins Department Store selling building materials in Canton for three years and was a caregiver at Park Village Nursing Home in Dover during the 1980s which helped her prepare for taking care of her mother and husband for over ten years. Kay had also been a local seamstress, making wedding, prom, and homecoming dresses, and costumes. She also taught many of her family members how to sew.

She was also the craft leader and a Sunday School teacher at the Deersville Methodist Church where she painted life size animal murals in the church basement. She was inspired by the shape of rocks and loved to paint animals on the rocks including eagles, foxes, and chipmunks. After her husband died, she worked at the Gypsy Wagon in Cadiz in the early 2000s where she sold some of her painted rocks.

Her husband, Homer Edgar Kocher, died June 17, 2000. They were married in Waynesburg Free Will Baptist Church by Kay's Great Uncle, Alex Webb, on September 20, 1969. Together they were very active in fishing tournaments.

Surviving are a son, Brian Todd Kocher of Deersville, like a daughter, Barbara Bayliss of New Philadelphia; a niece, Kelly Menefee of New Philadelphia and her family, Victor (Mary Gomez) Fish and River Blankenship; a step-brother, Jim (Mindy) Stoltz and his family of Columbus; and several other nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Kay was preceded in death by a brother, Herbert Blankenship in 2023.

Following Kay's wishes, cremation was entrusted to Koch Funeral Home in Freeport.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at her residence on Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.net