Judith Cooley, 72, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. Judy was born on November 7, 1945, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to the late Russell and Celia (Lawson) Butts. She graduated from Marion High School in 1963. She later worked as a tax preparer for Ewer and Moritz for over 20 years, and just retired in November of 2017. Judy married Arvie L. Cooley in 1998 and they recently celebrated 19 wonderful years of marriage. Judy had been a member of Unity Christian Church for over 50 years. She was also a member of the Grant County Art Association. Judy loved to paint and draw, and would give her masterpieces to friends and family. Judy loved to bird watch and stick her feet in the sand. She could find joy in trying anything new. She always had a smile on her face and never complained about how bad she felt while fighting her battle with cancer. She enjoyed the time spent dressing up as a clown for the Smile Seekers, and her clown name was Cubby Caboose; it combined two things she loved most… the Chicago Cubs and trains.
Judy will be greatly missed by her husband Arvie, Fairmount; step-daughter, Darlene Wyatt, Gas City; step-son, Dewayne Cooley, Huntington; five siblings, Tom (Sally) Butts, Newport, TN, Linda Posey, Dumfries, VA, Don (Denise) Butts, Marion, Dennis (Deborah) Butts, Marion, and Mike (Julie) Butts, Noblesville; three grandchildren, Noel Ratliff, Nick Ratliff, and Season Johnson; five great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Marcus, Andrew, Kyle, and Courtney; and close friends, Lucy and Mike Conner. Her many nieces and nephews will greatly miss their “Aunt Jude”.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Celia Butts, and her brother, Jerry Butts.
Arrangements for Judy have been entrusted to Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services Fairmount Chapel, 415 S. Main St., Fairmount, Indiana 46928. The family will have a memorial service honoring Judy at Unity Christian Church, 140 N. Pennsylvania St., Marion, Indiana 46952, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends and family from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. before the service. Burial will follow at a later date at Gardens of Memory in Marion.
Contributions in memory of Judy can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children. Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.