Judith Essex

November 24, 2022

Judith Essex

Service Details

Judith “Judy” Essex, 65, passed away on November 24, 2022, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by family and friends. She was born in Des Moines, IA on April 22, 1957, the daughter of Delbert and Karen Essex.

Judy worked several places over the years including Menards, Holmes Murphy, and Kum & Go. She recently retired from her favorite job, Casey’s General Store, where she was most often referred to by her co-workers and regulars as ‘mama’. Judy started every day with a morning smoke and coffee stating this was her time with her dad. Judy was everyone’s mom, always taking in her children’s friends and others as her own. She truly had a huge heart and loved every moment spent with her family and friends. Judy enjoyed many things in life, especially decorating for the holidays. She loved baking/decorating cookies with her daughter Holly, her mom Karen, and anyone else who cared to join in on the fun. She took pride in her tradition of making her delicious tacos for the boys’ birthday, never skipping a year. She loved gardening, tending to her flowers, playing cards/game nights with all her ‘kids’, and most of all, she cherished every moment she spent with her grandbabies. When you came to her house there was no need to knock, her door was always open. You could bring any problem to her and never expect any judgment, only good advice, as she loved you no matter what and would always put your needs above hers. She hated asking for help, but would somehow passive aggressively find a way to help you identify what she wanted or needed. She was a worrier and could often be overbearing with her concerns, but we all knew it came from the heart. A piece of our hearts is now in heaven and she will forever be missed.

Judy is survived by her children; daughter Holly (Dallas) Hearn; son Cody (Monique) Tingley; 6 grandchildren, Daniel, Jax, Gage, Lucca, Nolan, and Brylee; 1 great grandchild Waylon; Mother Karen Essex; brothers Arnold Essex and Del Essex Jr.; sister Kim (Jeff) Miller; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Delbert Essex, and sister, Janice Furgison.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. with services to follow at 12:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. The family would like to invite everyone to a fellowship reception following services in the lower level of the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Judy.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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