Kathryn "Kathy" A. Judd

Kathryn Anne Judd “Kathy” (Gowing) passed away March 27 ^th , 2020 surrounded by her family in Fairbury, Nebraska at the age of 60.

Kathy is survived by her father, LtCol USAF (ret.) Donald R. Gowing of Bellevue, Nebraska; husband, Paul Judd of Fairbury Nebraska; daughter, Sarah and husband, Nick Sutton of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter, Laura Judd of Newport News, Virginia; brothers, Don Gowing II of Atlanta, Georgia, Timothy and wife, Tara Gowing of Nebraska City, Nebraska, and Corey Gowing of Bellevue, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Cynthia Martinez of Lincoln, Nebraska and brother-in-law, Mickey and wife, Angie Judd of Fairbury, Nebraska.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Christopher Gowing and mother, Madelene Gowing.

Kathy was born on June 10, 1959 at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  As an Air Force “Brat” she spent her childhood growing up in Massachusetts, Spain, Virginia, and Nebraska.  She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1977 and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to earn her B.S. in Political Science. While there, she gained lifelong sisters when she became a “Theta” by joining Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.  Upon graduation, she was a city planner for the city of Bellevue, Nebraska.

Kathy moved to Fairbury, Nebraska after marrying Paul Judd on September 11, 1982.  She was an active member of the Fairbury Community.  She was co-chairman of the committee that built the Fairbury Frontier Fun Park, fundraiser planner for Jail and Bail, an active member of P.E.O., and was involved in numerous school activities and fundraisers as her daughters were growing up.  In the end, her greatest joy was becoming “Nana” upon the birth of her granddaughter, Grace Kathryn Sutton, in 2015.

Her friends and family will forever remember Kathy’s spirit.  She was known for being an incredible hostess and thrived off of planning a memorable party.  Family and friends loved getting her annual Christmas cards which were full of the sarcastic humor and one-liners that only Kathy could pull off.  She showed her generosity by spoiling her friends and family on their birthdays and is remembered for giving out balloon bouquets on Halloween.

In true Kathy fashion, a memorial service and celebration of life will be planned for later this summer in Fairbury.  Anyone that wants to remember Kathy on an annual basis should celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a glass of sauvignon blanc and a “we love us!” toast (ask the family this story sometime).

Her family is forever grateful for the amazing staff at JCHC for their care and friendship over recent years during her courageous battle with cancer. Her fighting spirit will forever influence those who knew and loved her.