Judith "Judy" Kay (Elliott) Beaird

Judith “Judy” Kay Beaird, 82, of Keokuk died at 12:01 pm Sunday, September 6th, 2020 at the Keokuk Area Hospital (UnityPoint).

She was born on May 29th, 1938, in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of Everett Elliott and Eva Elliott (Martin).

She married Carl W. Beaird, Jr., on January. 7th, 1961, in Keokuk.

Judy graduated from Hannibal High School where she was the Homecoming Queen her Senior year and then Blessing-Rieman College of Health Sciences with most of her training on the job at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL. After college she was a resident of Keokuk most of her adult life.

She was very passionate about helping others in her community through her job and her work with the American Red Cross, the Keokuk Hospital Auxiliary, the athletic booster clubs and her church All-Saints Parish.

Judy was honored with a few lifetime achievement awards from the various sports boosters clubs in her community.  She received multiple volunteer and citizenship awards throughout her years in Keokuk, the highlight being chosen by the KHS Student Council to be the grand marshal of the 1990 homecoming parade. The plaque commemorating that day hung on the wall in her home for all who visited to see.

As you might imagine she was a life-long Keokuk Chief fan as well as a devoted Iowa Hawkeye football and wrestling fan.

Judy had many friends and family that would stop by her house during her retirement years for chats and entertainment. She especially loved Halloween, her favorite part being the children that would stop by in costume. And when their children became old enough they came to her house to help handout candy to the next generation. You always had a home and a hug if Judy Beaird was around.

She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church, Keokuk.

She is survived by her son Kyle Beaird (South Barrington, IL), his wife Dr. Leslie Beaird, and their children Finn and Ella, her daughter-in-law Dr. Judy Wenger (New York, NY) and her daughters Abigail and Molly. Also surviving are her Brother-In-Laws Michael Beaird (wife Brenda) and Don Romes and best friend Mary-Ann Brightwell and several nieces and nephews which she loved with all of her heart.

She was preceded in death by her son Craig “Marty”, her husband Carl, her sister-in-law Nancy Romes and sister-in-law Mary Ann Haworth.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, at All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk, with Reverend David Brownfield, Ph.D. officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3 to 8 pm, with family meeting friends from 5 to 8 pm at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home, 917 Blondeau Street, Keokuk, Iowa. For the safety of those attending, attendees are encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing. Judy's Funeral Mass will be available for live-streaming. To view, please click this link: https://www.allsaintskeokuk.org/live.html

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, 308 East Burlington

Street, Box #247, Iowa City, Iowa 52240.

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