Judy A. DeMoss, 74, of Hamilton moved on to her next phase of the energy cycle, at the beginning of this month, March 2021. She was born on April 9, 1946, in Lennox, California, to very proud parents, Lucille and Herbert May. Judy was raised a beach loving California girl. Let’s just say the annual bathing suit shopping was a serious affair. She had one older brother, Hobbie, whom she adored and perhaps where her love of pranks and jokes began. They loyally sent one another the most lovingly insulting greeting cards they could find, continuing even as they both became grandparents. Judy graduated from Montebello High School, in 1964, with the world at her feet. A fashionably thin blond, big blue-eyed beauty, she made her first noteworthy step out into the world in Las Vegas, as a Show Dancer. Feather headdress and can-can lines quickly grew tiresome, and she returned home later, reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, Bob DeMoss. They married and had one bouncing baby boy. He was swiftly adorned in Pittsburgh Steelers fan garb and remains an honored family tradition to this day.
Married life didn’t turn out to be so suitable. This led to noteworthy “step out into the world II”. Judy and her young son moved to the gorgeous Bitterroot Valley and embraced rural living, including trying her hand at deer hunting and later proving a loyal supporter of her son’s lifelong hunting pursuits. Although Judy tied the knot with two more Mr. Right hopefuls, they too soon to be Mr. Wrong’s. It turned out that singlehood suited Judy best, with her fun loving, independent nature, crabby sass sense of humor and remarkable toughness; surviving breast cancer and enduring the slow steady ravages of the less aggressive but equally debilitating form of MS. Listening to the Beatles and taking her Clint Eastwood fandom to impressive heights; she no longer needed Mr. Right. With the help of her best friend, her dear mom, Lucy, AKA Nan, she raised an amazing son, practically perfect in every way. Judy brought home the bacon by waitressing at Stox Café, a short stint shelving books at the elementary school library, working at Montana Outfitters, selling tickets at the Roxy Movie Theatre, selling high end clothing at Nobles, arranging flowers at Bitterroot Floral, silk screening at a shirt shop, selling shoes at Kmart, ringing the bell for Salvation Army at Christmas time, working at the Commod Thrift Store and finally, on staff at the Genesis House Woman’s home.
When not working, Judy loved watching her son play baseball. So much so, that she earned a sizeable trophy for her Exceptional Baseball Mom Achievements, tending her garden (always growing plenty to share and known for her fabulous tomatoes), feeding the birds, squirrels, and deer faithfully (Except for the squirrels. Twice, they chewed through the wires in her living room attic where they nested.) Not to mention, spoiling her family every visit with a pile on the kitchen counter waited for us with anything from our favorite treats to coupons to new QVC gadgets that we didn’t know how we ever lived without. Her family wishes her endless days on the beach, with a bottomless glass of wine, laughing with her mom. We want her to know that we are so happy to have her dear Lily dog home to live with us. We will cherish her and remember all the love and Kahlua making caliber laughs we’ve shared.
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