Deborah (Debby) Heath Lobb Athearn of West Tisbury died peacefully Feb. 11, surrounded by her family. She was 76.

She was born June 12, 1945 in Philadelphia and was raised in Havertown, Pa. She graduated from Haverford Senior High School in 1963 and studied photography at the Benjamin Franklin Institute in Boston. After college, she spent a few years driving all over the U.S. in her ‘66 Mustang convertible, making friends wherever she went. She settled on the Vineyard in the early 1970s and met her husband George (Harry) Athearn and raised their son Brian.

Debby loved fishing: she was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishing Club, fished the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, and helped coordinate the kids’ trout tournaments for years. She also loved to travel with Harry, taking trips to the Caribbean and Hawaii, and driving cross country multiple times in their various Astro vans. She was as creative in practical pursuits as she was in her artistic endeavors, her curious and determined nature serving her well in everything from rebuilding the pool pump to learning to play the ukulele and performing around the Island with her Uke Group friends.

She held many jobs over the years but found her calling as a paper hanger after teaching herself how to hang wallpaper while renovating their house on Lambert’s Cove. She ran her own business on the Island for many years. She retired shortly after the birth of her first grandchild in order to devote the majority of her time to being Nini to him and, eventually, his younger brother. She stocked her pantry with their favorite foods and never subscribed to those silly rules their parents had about snacks before dinner, bedtimes, screen time or the appropriate age at which one should own his own golf cart.

She had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel welcome: friends of friends, extended family, summer visitors and countless hummingbirds all benefited from her hospitality. She will be remembered for her easy smile and generosity, for knowing a little bit about everything, and letting you know if she thought there was a better way to do whatever you happened to be doing at the time. And, of course, for those amazing baked beans.

She is survived by her husband, George (Harry) Athearn; her son Brian Athearn and his wife Kate; her brother Norman Heath Lobb 3rd and his wife Kathy; grandsons Hunter Athearn and Emmett Athearn; nieces Dee Quesnel and her husband Doug, and Amanda Clary and her husband Roger; grandniece Skylar Quesnel; cousins Paul Deigendesch, Lucille Schuck and her husband Ken, Laura Schuck, and Jamie Schuck; and numerous friends who felt like family.

She was predeceased by her parents Norman Heath Lobb Jr. and Edith Deigendesch Lobb, uncle Paul Deigendesch and aunt Lucille Deigendesch.

A graveside service will be held at the Lambert’s Cove Cemetery on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

Donations can be made to Hospice Care VNA of Cape Cod, who cared for her and her family in her final days.