Judy Carol Pearson

Judy was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on a cold and snowy winter night to Fred Mason Rulla and Beulah Beatrice (Bush) Rulla, in Lincoln General Hospital. They brought her home to 900 A Street, Lincoln, where she would live out her childhood.

Her early childhood was be spent with her sister, Patricia (Patsy). They had seven other children on the block where they lived, so there was no shortage of friends to play with. Their days were filled with bike riding, dolls, bringing their toys out on the big porch of their house to play store with the kids and picnics under the big elm tree that was in the front yard. It was an ideal childhood with a loving mother and father who tried to give them everything that they could. Dad was a milkman who supervised delivery routes for Skyline Dairy in Lincoln and Mom was a homemaker who had many sewing, cooking and other talents. She also once owned an ice cream shop which her girls loved and worked in with her. Both parents were always helping others and that became a great example for their girls, who tried to emulate what they had learned from their parents through their lives.

Other interests were Monday, Girl Scouts, Tuesday, dancing lessons (ballet, toe, tap, jazz and even hula dancing), Wednesday, choir practice at church, Thursday, 4H Club, Friday, piano lessons and Saturday, music theory lessons. It sounds like a lot, but they loved it. Of course, they attended Sunday School and Church every Sunday.

Church was a place to learn about God, use Judy’s talents and attend Methodist Youth Fellowship. She also got to see her Aunts, Uncles and Cousins then. Later, Judy would not only be in the adult choir but also play her flute for services.

She was a great student going through public school and on to the University of Nebraska. During that time, she developed an interest and talent for the flute. She was in the Lincoln High School band, as well as, the University of Nebraska Symphonic Band, the Lincoln Community Concert Band, The Syrinx Flute Trio and other private performances. Her entire life was filled with the love of music.

After the university years, she became a public school teacher in the Lawrence, Nelson and Omaha schools. She taught instrumental band. This included familiarizing the students with the several different instruments in the band, as well as, helping them select an instrument that they would like to master. Then there was teaching them how to march on a field in formations while playing the music selections. That was a challenge. Also. there was being the bus driver taking them to the destination where they would perform. As mentioned, this covered several years of instilling the love of music to thousands of students throughout her career as a music teacher.

Judy retired from teaching and persuaded a career in accounting. She worked for Lincoln Medical Supply doing bookkeeping and overseeing the inventory. She moved to Centel Telecommunications where she worked in the accounting department and then on to the University of Nebraska where, again, she started out in the accounting department and moved to the Information Services Department, which included the telecommunications and computer infrastructure, among other things.

When not working, her interests turned to her music, crocheting, knitting, cross stitching, embroidery, quilling, card making and other crafts. She also was an avid reader who appreciated fiction, as well as, historical books. In her later years she would be making fancy greeting cards that are cherished and saved by all who were fortunate to receive them.

Judy made and kept many friends and family along her life’s travels. She loved and appreciated them all for who they were and always had a listening ear for their joys and sorrows. She cherished her sister, Pat, brother-in-law, Delane Moeller, her nieces and nephews, Christine, Scott, Dan and Shannon, as well as her grandnieces and grandnephews, Madeline, Aubree, Joshua, Brendan, Kyle and Amy. What greater tribute to her could there be!

The love of her life was Tom Pearson. They met at the Young Adults class at Trinity Methodist Church. Their relationship quickly blossomed into love and they were married January 5, 1980. Their love was consuming for one another, sharing everything that they could together. They loved sports, particularly the University of Nebraska teams and the Kansas City Royals baseball team. They liked the same television programs, movies and other entertainments. They really enjoyed traveling together. They only had eyes for each other. The day Tom passed away was devastating for Judy and she never really recovered from missing Tom. However, one of her parting thoughts was, “Now I will be able to see Tom again!”

She loved Jesus and the Father God. She looked forward to the day that she would actually be able to see Him before her eyes. That desire is complete now as she has realized the hope of going to live with Him in Glory forever, as well as, being with her beloved Tom and family.

So, we agree with God, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have lived a life that is exemplary in all of our eyes!”