Her parents, Samuel T. and Frances (Cutter) Hicks, welcomed their daughter into the world on January 22, 1947 in Bellows Falls, VT. She grew up in Walpole, NH and was a graduate of Walpole High School.
Deborah attended the University of New Hampshire and University of Miami, earning her Bachelors in Education. While teaching full time at Keene High School, she continued her education by earning her Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling from Keene State College, Keene, NH.
Deborah devoted her work career to working as an English teacher and Guidance Counselor at Keene High School for 28 years, educating others.
Deborah was an extremely skilled, self-taught equestrian that knew everything about breeding, raising and showing horses. She took pride in teaching her children to ride and passing on her knowledge and love of horses. When she was not in the classroom, Deborah loved playing tennis, horseback riding and showing her horses every weekend with her daughter, Doria. She also loved to listen to music of all kinds, dance and socialize with her lifelong tennis friends and colleagues from work.
She will be greatly missed by so many, but especially her husband of nine years, William G. "Bill" Staats, III, of Westmoreland; daughter, Doria (Schofield) Kaluza and husband, Patrick, of Raleigh, NC; son, Andrew Schofield, of Laconia, NH; brothers, Samuel Hicks, of Walpole, Phillip Hicks and wife, Jan, of Walpole, Alan Hicks of Concord, Randy Hicks and wife, Shelly, of Walpole; first husband, Peter Schofield and wife, Cathy Eakins, of Brattleboro, VT; Bill’s children, William G. Staats, IV and wife, Lauren; Kara Barnum and husband, Robert, and their children, Robbie, Kaylee, Zoey, Liam; and several nieces and nephews. A sister, Sally Hogan, sister in-law, Diane Hicks, nephew, Christopher Hicks, sister in-law, Lucy Dean, brother in-law Charlie Carter, father, Samuel T. Hicks, mother Frances Hicks and step-mother, Marilyn Hicks, predeceased her.
A celebration of Deborah’s life will be held on Friday, July 30th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH. Final burial plans will be at the privacy of the family.
In lieu of flowers and for those who wish, donations may be made in Mrs. Staats’ memory to the Alzheimer’s Association Mass. and NH Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or you may visit the link directly to donate on her tribute page. http://act.alz.org/goto/Deborah_Schofield_Staats
