Judith Grace Lawson

Judy left this life on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the age of 81. Born in Middletown, OH, she attended Monroe High School and at the age of 47 graduated as a Registered Nurse with Honors from Sinclair College. Thereafter she began her career in nursing and served in various capacities at the Dayton Heart Hospital and Grandview and Southview Hospitals.

She cherished and loved her family, and like Will Rogers, she never met a stranger. Judy provided many loving and joyful holidays with her skill as a cook, second to none, to go with her wit and charm.

Though greatly restricted recently, she loved all wildlife who cared to pay her a visit each day at her patio, recognizing each with a name such as Diane Deer and Gary Grey Squirrel; they all had a name.

For many years she performed as a member of a group of Gospel singers, lending her beautiful voice to hymns as the group, more or less, rode the circuit in the Tri-State area, giving voice to the word of God.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Virginia Lamb Cole; sisters Joyce Cope and Joanne Tincher; brothers David and William Rowland.

She is survived by her husband Eddie, her daughter Kelli Cope, son David (Marilee) Cope, grandsons Jacob (Chloe) Rossi, Justin (Chloe) Rossi, granddaughter Katie (Ryan) Innis, grandson Kevin Cope, and great-grandchildren Eva and Elouise Rossi, and Aubrey and Beckett Innis, sisters Verna (Tom) Barker, Connie Smith and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

She leaves a void in the hearts of many, but we are left with the certainty that she has “flown to her home on God’s celestial shore”, as she sings her favorite hymn, “I’ll Fly Away.”

Graveside services for immediate family will be held for the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. (www.stjude.org/donate). Services entrusted to

Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home, Miamisburg.