Judith "Judy" Atkinson

Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Judy (82) passed away on January 27, 2023.

See 3 Photos

Judy was born on August 22, 1940 to Alice and Chet Peterson. She was raised in Murray, Utah and graduated from Granite High School in 1958.

As a teenager Judy loved listening to Elvis Presley. Her favorite song was "Love Me Tender." She also enjoyed roller skating, and playing neighborhood games of baseball, football, kick the can, and hide-and-seek.

Judy married her sweetheart Richard Park Atkinson on July 10, 1959. Richard was the love of her life and they spent 50 happy years together. They were formally introduced when Judy's brother, Ron- who worked with Richard at a gas station, invited Richard to their house for poker games with their parents. Years earlier Judy first encountered Richard when she and her siblings went sledding and a group of boys, including Richard, threw snowballs to chase them off of "their" hill.

Judy was a fantastic mother and loved taking her children places. She faithfully carted her kids (and several others) to the racetrack every week to watch her husband race cars. The family spent many happy hours at the Rancho Lanes Bowling Alley and swimming pool, where Judy bowled in a women's league that earned a free pool pass.

She was a woman of many talents and enjoyed oil painting, sewing, diy home projects, and in her later years crocheting. She crocheted an afghan for every grandchild and great-grandchild.

She was an avid volunteer and enjoyed participating in causes, helping as an election worker, a school room mother, and as a Young Women's Girl's Camp leader.

Judy spent many years babysitting children- including neighborhood children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved children and her home and "home away from home" were welcoming places for all. She always brought extra kids along on camping and boating adventures, often at Flaming Gorge.

Judy had a good sense of humor often exhibiting a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face as she teased her grandchildren. Many happy holidays and afternoons were spent by family in her presence.

She is survived by her children Barbara (Jeff) Sanders, Jeannette (Scott) Harris, Rick (Lynn) Atkinson, Dani DeLaney (Brent), 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and cherished friends Bryan and Christine. She is preceded in death by her husband Richard, daughter Sally, grandsons Tyler and Michael, and parents and siblings.

A viewing will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 12:00-1:45 PM at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123. Graveside funeral services will follow at 2 PM. Interment will follow the service at the same location.