Judith Kathryn Ashmore

JUDITH KATHRYN Ashmore died suddenly on March 15, 2024 at the Thiensville library which had given her such pleasure over the years. Her passing is mourned by her husband of 61 years, Robert B. Ashmore, Jr., professor emeritus of Philosophy at Marquette University, by her sons Robert III and Michael, by daughters-in-law Linda and Joan, respectively, by grandson Peter Jerome, by sisters Susan McCadney and Patricia Hobson, and many other friends and relatives. Judy was born February 20, 1938 in Decatur, Indiana as the eldest daughter of J. Ronald and Mary Parrish. Growing up in Decatur, Judy then graduated from Marian University in Indianapolis with a major in mathematics. A brilliant student, Judy received a scholarship to pursue graduate study at the University of Notre Dame where she met her future husband Robert in 1962. They fell in love and were married in her home town on August 17, 1963. They then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where Robert became a professor at St. Thomas University. In the twin cities were born their two handsome and devoted sons. They next moved to Cincinnati, Ohio when Robert was professor at Xavier University and sons Bobby and Michael were in the Montessori program. They settled in Wisconsin in 1969 when Robert joined the faculty at Marquette University, of which both sons are now graduates.

Judy worked over twenty years at Northwestern Mutual, regularly being promoted as a systems analyst in the IT department. Judy and Robert built a home in Mequon, Wisconsin in 1987 and have lived there since. Judy and Robert loved to travel to visit their sons in California and Colorado, and to many countries around the world, including Ireland, England, France, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium, China, Russia, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Canada and several countries in Latin America. Judy and her husband loved the arts and were, for example, season subscribers to Milwaukee Ballet and Joffrey Ballet in Chicago,

Judy and Robert experienced such delight in a four-couple dinner group in their Mequon neighborhood. Judy was an enthusiastic fan of Marquette University's basketball team (season subscriber) and the Milwaukee Brewers. She loved the library, where she suddenly collapsed while checking out a book. Now she is gone and is deeply, deeply missed by the family that is grieving their inestimable loss. No one could have been a more loving spouse, mother and grandmother. Brilliant, beautiful and caring, Judy was the best of all of us. She will be interred at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas, Texas where Robert, a native of Dallas, will join her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to local libraries.