Judy Lee McCandless

She was born to Ione and A.J. Becker in Seattle, WA on September 22, 1942. The family moved to Omaha, NE where they grew up near the large Becker clan. Judy attended Marion High School and then Creighton University for her nursing degree. There she met Don McCandless while washing his car at the nursing school fundraiser. They married that next year and moved to Salt Lake City for Don’s PhD program. Judy worked as a nurse on the pediatrics ward and later at the VA. She and Don had three girls, Bridget, Beth and Erin. The family spent some wonderful years in Montreal and Kingston, Ontario before moving to Independence, MO. Judy continued her nursing career at the Medical Center of Independence on the orthopedics floor where she made many friends.

They joined Nativity of Mary Parish, where they found their church family. Little did they know when they joined the deaconate program in the 1970’s, they were forming friendships that would span more than 50 years. After her nursing career, she brought her many talents together at Nativity to run the catechumenate class and the Stephens Ministry program of outreach to the sick and dying.

Judy had the greenest of thumbs—the weirder the houseplant the better. She would shamelessly steal plant cuttings from anywhere, most notoriously from a maximum-security penitentiary. Judy was an indifferent cook, so in self-defense, her children learned to be wary eaters (especially after hearing the phrase “Oh well, close enough!”) and this sparked their early interest in culinary pursuits and emergency medical care. Judy was feisty, funny, unpretentious, and taught her children all the necessary swear words. She raised 3 independent daughters who chose husbands she adored. She was the woman who let her 4 grandkids watch inappropriate TV all night long, treated them to milkshakes to justify her own ice cream habit, laughed at their goofy antics, and routinely sided with the grands against her own children.

Judy was preceded in death by her beloved dog, Jazz, and her husband, Don, of 55 years. She is survived by her children, Bridget McCandless (Dennis Taylor), Beth May (Tony), Erin McCandless (Ed Seifert), her grandchildren, Ryan, Crow, Maggie and Nate and great grandchildren, Ellie and Axton, and her sister, Carol Brown. Judy is also survived by her chosen family of Jessica Pounds and Rodney Bell.

Her visitation will be held at St Mark’s Catholic Church at 8:30 AM on Saturday, November 29th followed by the funeral at 9:30 AM. A brunch will be provided after the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Community Services League.