Judy Ann Parsons

Judy Martin Parsons, 84, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2025. She was born in Mexico, Missouri, on March 26, 1941, to Linwood and Genieve (Brown) Martin. Judy graduated from Centralia High School in 1959, and from Central Methodist University (then Central Methodist College) in 1963. She was married to Robert Parsons in July 1963; he preceded her in death on April 24, 2000. Judy married the Rev. Cleo Kottwitz in March 2003.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14th, at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. 9th St, Columbia, MO. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15th, also at Missouri United Methodist Church.

Judy was a lifelong learner and educator. She began her teaching career with Columbia Public Schools, at Hickman High School, in 1963. In addition to teaching at Hickman, Judy taught at West Junior High and Oakland Junior High (both are now middle schools). Judy retired from CPS in 2003, as the Coordinator of Social Studies curriculum for the district.

Judy’s involvement in numerous organizations, at the local, state, and national levels, helped to foster her love of teaching and the advancement of the education profession. She was awarded the CPS Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1982 and was honored in 1987 by the University of Missouri College of Education Alumni Citation of Merit for Outstanding Achievement and Meritorious Service to Education.

Judy is survived by her husband, Rev. Cleo Kottwitz, of the home, her sister, Jane Martin Perry of Muncie, Indiana, her son, Rob and his wife Annie, her daughter Julie (Widhalm) and her husband Dan, Cleo’s son John and his wife Rhonda, daughter Ann (Wappelhorst) and her husband Don, son Mark and his wife Leigh, Judy’s grandchildren Luke and Garrett Parsons, Matt Widhalm and his fiancée Sarah, Jack Widhalm and his wife Hattie, Cleo’s grandchildren Krista (Angell) and her husband Jardyn, Shane and his wife Hannah, Christopher Wappelhorst and his fiancée Loren, Sarah (Steitz) and her husband Tyler, Lindsay, Tanner, Heather and Stormy, and great-grandchildren Dekker and Julienne. Grandson Andrew Wappelhorst preceded Judy in death in 2013.

To honor Judy’s memory and her life dedicated to service, memorials will be appreciated to the following: Missouri United Methodist Church (MUMC), 204 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201; the Judy Martin Parsons Educators Scholarship c/o Missouri United Methodist Foundation (MUMF.org), PO Box 1076, Columbia, MO 65205; Rainbow Network, PO Box 14638, Springfield, MO 65814; or Lenoir Woods, 3710 Lenoir St, Columbia, MO 65201.