Judith Kay Bishop

Judith “Judy” Kay Bishop, 76, of Tucson, Arizona, passed to her Heavenly home on October 26, 2024,

after a courageous journey through Interstitial Lung Disease. Her sister and dedicated caregiver, Jane

Bishop, was by her side as Judy peacefully joined Jesus, her Lord and Savior.

Judy was born on February 1, 1948, in Ogallala, Nebraska, to the late Ken and Kay (Wlaschin) Bishop.

Her early years were marked by health challenges due to her premature birth, yet she overcame each

obstacle with remarkable strength. Despite these difficulties, Judy developed a resilient spirit, an

infectious sense of humor, and a gentle kindness that made her a bright light in the lives of everyone

around her.

Her Catholic upbringing laid the foundation for a life filled with the love of Jesus, which shone through

her joyful spirit and caring, loving heart. Judy’s faith was steadfast, deeply rooted in kindness and

integrity. She believed in treating others with respect and compassion and held a firm belief in living a

life grounded in right and wrong. Known for her empathy, she was always ready to help those in need,

even when she had little herself.

She attended St. Luke’s Catholic School for her elementary education and graduated from Ogallala Senior

High School with the Class of 1967. Judy went on to study at business schools in Sidney, NE, and later at

Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ, honing her skills in various fields. Over the years, she worked in

different roles but found her most fulfilling job in caring for her beloved nephews, BJ, Luke, and Tyler.

She cherished her time as their nanny, forming lifelong bonds with each of them.

Judy’s compassion and love of animals led her to a second career in pet-sitting, a job that brought her

joy and companionship. When families left Judy in charge of their pets, they always knew that the pets

were well cared for and would be given lots of love; although you would be hard pressed to determine

who enjoyed the visits more – Judy or the pets.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ralph Douglas “Doug” Bishop, her paternal

grandparents Ralph and Beatrice “Bea” Bishop, and maternal grandparents Pete and Kate Wlaschin.

Judy is survived by her devoted sister, Barbara “Jane” Bishop; her brothers, Don Bishop (and significant

other Nancy Wold) of Tucson, AZ, Ken (Joy) Bishop of Ogallala, NE, and Jeff (Cindy) Bishop of

Bellevue, NE; and her sister-in-law, Mary Lou Bishop, of Castle Rock, CO. She also leaves behind a large,

loving extended family of 13 nieces and nephews, as well as 26 great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate Judy’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on December 7, 2024, at Summit

Ridge Community Church, 505 W Hardy Road, Oro Valley, AZ 85704, officiated by Pastor Dan Acker.

Feel free to dress casually and wear something with Judy’s favorite color (purple) if you wish. The

service will be live-streamed on YouTube via the Summit Ridge Community Church channel.

In honor of Judy’s love for animals, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of

Southern Arizona ( https://hssaz.org ) at 635 W Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705, OR to a favorite animal

rescue organization of your choice.

To share memories or offer condolences, please visit her memorial page at https://everloved.com/life-

of/judith-bishop/.