Judith Stoddard McConkie

Judith Stoddard McConkie received her Christmas wish when she joined her husband and loved ones in paradise, December 26, 2021. A lumberman’s daughter, Judy was born August 10, 1930, in the timber country of LaGrande Oregon to Alexander Lester and Blanch Black Stoddard. Her family was numbered among the valiant and religious saints. “They had sawdust in their veins.”

The Stoddards moved to the Salt Lake Valley and established a sawmill at Mirror Lake, High Unitahs with other family woodsmen, beloved cousins and siblings who became Judy’s playmates for twelve wonderful summers.

Judy attended local Salt Lake City public schools, East High School, and the University of Utah.

At the University, Judy was a beautiful and shining star and was chosen as dream girl of Delta Phi. There, she met Oscar W. McConkie, Jr. who intelligently recognized her beauty, wit, grace, charm, and gentility. They courted and married in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, March 17, 1951. As an eternal companionship, Judy chose to fill Oscar’s space and breathe his vibrant, active air. He was her chosen professor, and she was the enabling wind beneath his wings. Together, they reared eight children, believing this labor of love to be their most valuable contribution.

Judy chose to be a Domestic. She set her hand to the plow and never looked back. The beauty and warmth of her home invited all to enter, family, friend, and stranger alike. By her gracious generosity, her fun-loving energy, her frank honesty, and not so subtle sense of humor, Judy filled everyone she met with loving kindness.

Judy loved children and adored all her grandchildren, and she was adored by them. She made the McConkie brownstone homestead continually open and available for all fun and laughter. One grandson referred to her as, “The fastest wit of the west.” In addition to the unsurpassed family parties, fireworks, and marshmallow fights, she encouraged leadership, confidence, civility, service, education, loyalty, and above all Family and Love.

Judy was an architect of her family. Her faith in Jesus Christ permeated her life, and gospel principles dominated all family rules of the household. At her knee, her children learned to pray fervently. By her example, her children understood devotion to keeping covenants. Of Judy, her husband, Oscar, stated, “I have never known a woman who was as totally giving in child rearing as was your mother… She casts up amazing ways to nurture, develop, and make the best personalities in this world. I believe my wife is second to none in mothering.” Judy will ever be remembered as a defender of the faith and for her steadfast allegiance to her family.

Judy honored her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the young age of 21, she became a bishop’s wife and faithfully sustained Oscar in his extensive Church service for decades. She served in various Church callings including Ward Relief Society President, Stake Primary board member, and as teacher of the adorable Primary Moonbeams! She served alongside Oscar as Mission Leaders in the Arizona Tempe Mission. Judy traveled the nations of Africa and around the world with Oscar on behalf of his Church legal assignments, softening hearts and opening doors with her generous love for all people of every race and nationality.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Ann Stoddard Reese, and Sue Stoddard Stevens, her brother Charles Philip Stoddard, a grandson, Christian Young McConkie, and a great-granddaughter, Hannah Marie Nielsen.

She is survived by her eight children Oscar III (Carol), Ann (Paul) Boyden, Daniel Stoddard (Elisabeth), Gail (Paul) Evans, Clair (Mark) Evans, Pace Jefferson (Marilyn), Roger James (Sara), and Edward Stoddard (Mary Ellen), 45 grandchildren and 114 great grandchildren. She knew and dearly loved each one.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at noon at the Princeton Ward building, 1005 South 2000 East Salt Lake City. A gathering will be held the evening before, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 6pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City and at the Ward Wednesday, from 10:30 to 11:30 am prior to services. Masks are encouraged.

Funeral proceedings may also be viewed at the following site: https://zoom.us/j/98950786909?pwd=OEdtUEtzSm5xOUsrdTlOajVCcGt3QT09

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the general Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or to a missionary of your choice.