Debra E. Biccum — cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and Nan Deb — left us on February 26, 2026. Born September 16, 1950 to Curt and Olive Kanitz in Port Jervis, NY, Debbie lived a life that was full in every sense of the word.

She was the head majorette at Port Jervis High School, graduating in 1968, and never let anyone forget it. She’d proudly claim she could still twirl a fire baton just as well as she did back then and would sometimes drag it out to prove it, even though it no longer lit.

She married Gary Biccum in October 1971, and before settling down, the two of them really lived. They traveled out west, explored National Parks, hiked and camped — not entirely by the book — at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, drove to Florida in a dune buggy, water skied, and squeezed every drop out of life together. Eventually they welcomed their children, Mandy and Greg, and in 1989 the family moved to Glen Spey into a beautiful home that Debbie and Gary built largely with their own hands, a lot of sweat and more than a little love.

Debbie was a devoted mother who shaped her entire life around her kids. After a decade as a stay-at-home mom, she took a job as a teacher’s aide at Eldred Central School — a move that kept her right in the middle of her children’s sports and activities, which was exactly where she wanted to be. She retired as an accounts clerk from Eldred in 2010, just in time for the arrival of her first grandchild.

From that point forward she would be affectionately called Nan Deb. As wonderful as she was as a mother, she managed to be an even better grandmother. She helped raise Jack, Henry, and Scarlett — getting them on sleep schedules, teaching them to identify birds and wildlife, building snowmen, doing arts and crafts, taking walks in the woods, reading books, driving them to school, showing up to every game and concert, buying every bit of fundraiser junk they put in front of her, and cheering them on relentlessly.

Debbie loved her dog, Millie. She and Millie walked most days to the Rio Dam, where Millie would swim and Debbie would listen and watch for birds. She loved all wild creatures. Debbie was a wonderful neighbor and a dear friend to many in her little community. To say she will be missed doesn’t come close to the whole her passing has made. 

Debbie is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Gary Biccum, her daughter and son in law Mandy and Tim Scully, grandchildren Jack, Henry and Scarlett Scully and her son Greg Biccum. 

There will be no funeral or viewing services. In lieu of flowers, raise a glass to Nan Deb, go on an adventure, maybe buy some fundraiser junk from a kid you know or make a donation to Can’t Hurt Steel. Can’t Hurt Steel Community Foundation

Arrangements are entrusted to the Harrison Rasmussen Funeral Home of Barryville, NY , 3412 SR 97, Barryville, NY 12719 , 845 557-8010