Maxine Hartley

1940 - 2024

With heavy hearts, we
announce the passing of
Maxine "Deborah" Hart-
ley, age 83. She died peace-
fully, June 7, 2024, in her
home surrounded by fami-
ly and friends. Deborah
was born to parents Lin-
nea Olin and Maximilian
Bruckner in New York
City on Oct. 18, 1940. Al-
though Deborah grew up
with little means, a first
generation American and
the second child of 10, her
parents instilled in her an
appreciation and love of
fine arts. As a child, Debo-
rah sought sanctuary and
found inspiration in the
magnificent (and at the
time, free) museums
throughout Manhattan.
Deborah attended Julia
Richmon High School
(Class of 1955). While still
in school, she met her fu-
ture husband, Duane Hart-
ley, who was stationed in
New York during his ser-
vice in the Army. They
married in New York in
1958, then moved to Du-
ane's home state of Mis-
souri where their two chil-
dren were born. The
young family moved to
Athens, Ga., in 1966 when
Duane took a teaching po-
sition at the University of
Georgia. After the dissolu-
tion of their marriage,
Deborah pursued a degree
in art education at Geor-
gia Southern College,
graduating Magna Cum
Laude in 1976.
Upon graduation, Debo-
rah was hired to teach art
at Tallulah Falls School,
thus bringing her to Toc-
coa. Soon after, she took
the position of art teacher
at Stephens County High
School, where she taught
for 10 years.
Deborah found her true
calling when she boldly
opened The Studio, a
gallery, frame shop, home
for art lessons, and hub for
all things art. Deborah tru-
ly believed anyone could
learn to become an artist,
and took it upon herself to
make sure those who
wanted to learn did just
that. She particularly felt
that children should have
every opportunity to cre-
ate, and was ever support-
ive and encouraging in
this endeavor.
Deborah lived an un-
compromised life, guided
by her own sense of ethics
and morality. She cared
about all humanity, ani-
mals and the environ-
ment. She was beyond gen-
erous with her time and
energy, always putting
others before herself.
She loved books and old
movies, both of which she
had an encyclopedic
knowledge. She was never
comfortable with comput-
ers, cell phones or new
technology. A favorite ear-
ly memory of Deborah's
was walking to Central
Park to ice skate in the
winter and roller skate in
the summer. She would
pack a piece of bread with
butter for lunch and said
that after a morning of
skating, nothing ever tast-
ed more delicious. At the
end of the day, when she
and her friends walked
home, it felt like they still
had skates on their feet.
Deborah is survived by
her daughter, Jennifer
Hartley (David Judd), son
David Hartley (Kitty),
grandchildren, Halliday
and Wiley Hartley, and a
rich community of count-
less friends and former
students. She was preced-
ed in death by her grand-
son Jeffrey Rogers.
A celebration of Debo-
rah's life will be held at
The Studio, 61 Doyle
Street, Toccoa, Ga., on Sat-
urday, June 22, from 1-3
p.m. In lieu of flowers,
please consider a donation
to the Currahee Artists
Guild, which Deborah
helped found. Checks can
be mailed to The Studio at
the above address.
Acree-Davis Funeral
Home and Crematory is in
charge of the arrange-
ments for Maxine Deborah
Hartley.