Debra Stockwell

Debra Ann Stockwell, 67, died on September 27, 2025 at the Morrison House Hospice facility in Zanesville, Ohio, after a multi-year battle with ovarian cancer. Born November 13, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri, she was the eldest child of the late Donald G. Kiefer and late Shirley (McKnight) Kiefer. A talented writer and editor, Debra graduated from Excelsior Springs Missouri High School, received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northwest Missouri State University, and completed a Master of Arts degree in Interpersonal Communication from Ohio University. After her April 17, 1982, marriage to Daniel R. Stockwell, Debra became a resident of Zanesville. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and active in her daughters’ education and activities, from tennis to photography to theatre.
During her career, Debra was employed with the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in Minneapolis, with Muskingum Area Technical College (now Zane State College) in Zanesville, with Franklin University in Columbus, and with Ohio University-Zanesville, where she taught English, writing, public speaking, and communications. Her primary higher education duties were teaching and academic advising. She was dedicated to her students, forging life-long friendships with her students; many served as her nurses during her long illness.
Debra was a former member of the National Association for Developmental Education, the Ohio Association for Developmental Education, the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges, and the Delta Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. After her retirement, Debra resumed her life-long love of reading, spending time with friends, and began attending plays and musicals in Columbus. She also enjoyed spending time with her husband, daughters, relatives, and friends.
In addition to her husband Dan, Debra is survived by two daughters, Alison Stockwell of Columbus, OH and Ashley (Daniel) Hollingsworth and grandson Porter of Arlington, VA. She is also survived by siblings Alan (Rosa) Kiefer of Liberty MO; Denise (Tracy) Barker of Rowlett, TX; Diane (Chad) Marnholtz of Warrensburg, MO; and Alex (Linda) Kiefer of Belton, MO. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Jeannie (Paul) Bailey and Sandy (Larry) Turner, brother-in-law John Stockwell, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald G. Kiefer, and her mother Shirley Kiefer of Warrensburg, MO, her father-in-law Lawerence Jenkins and her mother-in-law Alverna Jenkins.
Calling hours will be 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Hillis Combs Funeral Home, 935 Forest Avenue, Zanesville. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM, Saturday, October 4, 2025, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 144 North 5th Street, Zanesville, with Fr. Jan C. P. Sullivan as celebrant. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Genesis Cancer Center or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. To sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note of condolence please visit www.hilliscombsfh.com