Doty, Judith Ann 1934-2013

DOTY, DOWNEY, KELLER, BATY, GILLILAND, BELGARDE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/12/2014 at 14:56:07

The Poweshiek County CR
Sept. 18, 2013

JUDITH DOTY, 79

Judith Doty, 79, of Deep River, passed away on Sept. 10, 2013, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 13, at St. James's Lutheran Church in Victor.

Interment was at Golden Rod Cemetery in Deep River following a luncheon

Memorials may be designated to the Judith Doty Memorial Fund.

Judith Ann was born to Wayne and Doris Downey Keller on March 15, 1934, in Deep River. She attended school in Deep River and graduated with the class of 1951 as Valedictorian. While in high school, she was part of two basketball teams that went to the state tournament in 1950 and 1951, achieving fourth place.

Judith was raised in the Church of Christ (Disciples) in Deep River and was baptized there on April 25, 1943.

On June 3, 1951, she was united in marriage with Laverne Doty, at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River. Also, on this special day she was confirmed in the church. Judith held a strong religious background as her great-grandmother Keller was a charter member of the Church of Christ in Deep River and her great-grandfather Hagg was a charter member of St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Iowa County.

The couple started their family after Laverne's return from the Air Force during the Korean Conflict; they are the parents of Michelle Marie and Kerry James. During Judith's career she worked for Time and Life magazine in Denver, Colo. Later, the couple lived in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where she worked for Hooker Electrochemical and National Lead.

In 1960, the couple relocated to Deep River where she was employed by Amana Refrigeration as a secretary in the purchasing department. in 1977, she began her nearly 17 years of service at the Star Inn near Victor until it closed in March of 1993.

Judith held a lifelong interest in sports, reading and music. She was an organist at both the Calvary and Trinity Churches in Millersburg. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary #296 of Deep River, where she served as president, secretary-treasurer and membership chairman.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Laverne; her daughter, Michelle Doty (Kurt Baty) of Austin, Texas; her son, Kerry (Carol) Doty of Baxter; two sisters, Pat (Ron) Gilliland and Suzy Belgarde of Adel; two granddaughters, Jessica and Micah; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Scott Keller.