Judy O'Dwyer

Judy passed away in Grand Junction with family around her, on February 19, 2018. She was born on October 22, 1946 in Watertown, South Dakota, but moved shortly afterwards to Snowflake, Arizona, then to Salyersville, Kentucky, then back to Wickenburg, Arizona when she was 6. She was the second child of seven, born to William and Helen Wheatley. She eventually moved back to Prescott, Arizona where she stayed through high school.

Judy’s love of the gospel started when she was a child and she started attending primary in the fourth grade. Her family was not active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but she always has someone to take her to primary and church, whether that was a friend or her grandparents. She never missed a primary meeting as a child and she has always loved going to church. Her testimony grew as a youth and a young adult.

Judy was involved in many organizations and groups as a youth and enjoyed participating in community and church events. She enjoyed playing sports as well. In high school, she volunteered as a Candy Striper, which helped her make the decision to become a nurse. She graduated from Prescott High in 1964. She worked for a year at the Yavapai Community Hospital Kitchen to save money for St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Phoenix. After graduation, she worked at St. Lukes hospital in South Phoenix. This led to a long career of nursing in a variety of settings – including hospitals, private offices, schools and assisted living facilities.

Judy met her future husband Steve in 1968 at an MMen and Gleaner Dance, but that initial meeting didn’t go any further than one dance at that time. They met again two years later at the organization of the Phoenix Student Branch, where she was then called to be the Relief Society President and Steve was called as the Executive Brach Secretary. When Steve walked in Judy said, “There is that cute Steve O’Dwyer”! After just 5 dates they got engaged on April 12, 1970 and got married that July 10, in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

While in Phoenix their daughter Cathy was born in 1972. Three months later they moved to Grand Junction, CO and remained for 14 years. While there Valarie, Paul, Cheryl and Molly were born. Over a period of years, Judy and Steve were guardians to her nieces and nephew who became children to them – Laurie, Tammy and Bobby. In 1986 they moved to Mesa, Arizona where they stayed for many years until returning to Grand Junction, which they considered their home.

Judy loved to garden and was always working in her yard in good weather. She also loved family history work and spent much of her free time pursuing that. She was an avid reader and love to study politics and she encouraged others to educate themselves. After she retired she learned about energy work and loved to help others using energy therapy. One thing she was known for with her family was her enjoyment of a Friday night movie at 8 p.m. Not too late, but late enough you can have dinner finished and get a few things done for the night!

Judy served in many callings at church over the years, including as Relief Society President 3 times! She always said that was because she hadn’t gotten it right yet! She was so humble about all her callings. She served in the Monticello, UT temple and served a two-year LDS service mission with Steve as managers of the Bishop’s Storehouse. This included overseeing the physical move of the storehouse to another location. Judy was a kind, loving and compassionate person who truly cared for the needs of others around her during her entire life, even many times denying her own needs for the needs of others.

Her life will be celebrated on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 2881 Orchard Avenue, Grand Junction, CO. She will be laid to rest at the Elmwood Cemetery, Fruita, Colorado.