Judy K. Beckett

Judy Beckett, 74, of Corning, entered eternal rest Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the Stringtown Community Church. Judy will be laid to rest in the North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox. Family will receive friends at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Corning from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Historic Widener Building Revitalization Project in Corning. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Judy Kay (Ball) Beckett, was born April 21, 1950, to Oral West Ball and Betty Jo (Wilson) Ball in West Plains, Missouri. Judy was the oldest of four children. The family moved from West Plains to Brighton, Colorado, in 1953, where Judy attended Brighton schools and graduated high school in 1968. Her plans were to attend the IBM school of Computers in Kansas City, Missouri, but on the day of graduation she suffered a stroke, altering her life decisions.

She had a brief marriage to John Leslie, from which Judy was blessed with two children, Robert Alan in 1970 and Brenda Suzanne in 1972. She then met Earl Beckett on Thanksgiving Day 1974. They were joined in marriage June 24, 1975, in Brighton. Earl quickly fell in love with Robert and Brenda and adopted them as his own. Judy and Earl were blessed with their daughter, Alisha Renee in 1977. Judy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 30s. Throughout Judy and Earl’s marriage they resided in Northglenn, Colorado, and Brighton, but decided to move back to Iowa for a slower paced life.

Here, Judy made many friends and loved attending church and gardening. If you saw Judy, Earl was always with her. When Earl passed away in 2000, a piece of her heart went with him. That was filled with the help of Marvin Smith, who Judy met in 2013. Judy and Marvin loved adventures. They took many exciting trips together which included an Alaskan cruise, traveling all over the country to visit family and their most memorable trip was a trip to Israel.

Judy’s faith was always an important part of her life. Judy was always very active in her church, teaching Sunday School, leading children’s sermons, was an elder in her church, among many other activities. Judy was very active in her community. She was on the Corning City Council, a member of the beautification committee, Lenox Women of Today and women’s auxiliary, among many other services.

As if she wasn’t busy enough, Judy always found time to attend her grandchildren’s many activities and travel with her best friend Debbie Sweeney. Judy loved shopping, not only for herself, but always finding trinkets and gifts for others. Judy loved music and her favorite game was asking you who sings that song? Judy loved getting her nails and hair done and would always have fun designs put on her nails each time she got them done.

Judy was a big advocate for MS research and her final gift was donating tissue and organs for MS research.

Judy is survived by her significant other, Marvin Smith of Corning; her children: Robert (Shawna) Beckett of Bay Minette, Alabama; Brenda (Ben) Walker of Creston and Alisha (Luke) Swank of Waukee; her siblings: Barbara (Scott) Robinson of Phoenix, Arizona; Kenneth (Antelia) Ball of Brighton, Colorado, and Linda Boji of Greeley, Colorado; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous friends, as Judy never met a stranger.

Judy is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Beckett and her parents, Oral and Betty Jo Ball.