JUDITH JOYCE DICKEY

1975 - 2013

Judith Joyce Dickey sadly and unexpectedly passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2013, in Cape Cod, Mass., at the too young age of 38. Her bright smile and infectious laugh will be missed by family and friends across the country, but she can now be at peace and join her mom in heaven. Judy was born May 27, 1975, in Kansas City, Mo., to proud parents Walter M. "Chip" Dickey and Joyce M. Dickey. She grew up in Leawood and Fairway, Kan., where she developed her deep love of learning and music. Another important part of Judy's youth were the many summers spent in Minnesota at Camp Lake Hubert. She was a 1993 graduate of the Pembroke Hill School (a "lifer"), and a 1994 debutante in the Jewel Ball. She studied at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts at Mt. Holyoke (like her grandmother), and was an active member of the school's choral group. After graduating in 1998 with a major in French, Judy's love of the language and learning led her to Dakar, Senegal, for a semester abroad, igniting her passion for travel around the world. When she returned to the States, Judy spent two years in the AmeriCorps program teaching English to non-native speakers. She remained in the Boston area for the remainder of her life. Judy also took graduate courses at Northeastern, Harvard and Tufts. She worked at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, managed several retail establishments, and created many wonderful friendships. Her travels took her to Indonesia where she studied orangutan behavior; to China with the Mt. Holyoke choir group; to Costa Rica where she studied monkeys; to Japan; and elsewhere. To those who knew her, the adventure of the world was one of her passions. She also adventured across our great country, once alone in her car for several weeks, but most often to North Carolina, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City and throughout most of the Northeast. Judy will be missed, remembered and loved always by her family and many, many friends. She was predeceased by her mother, Joyce, whose hand she held upon her passing. Judy is survived by her brother, David, his wife Erika and her beloved nephews and niece, Alex, John and Emily, as well as her father, Chip and his wife Gay. She is also survived by her adoptive family, Georgeanne, Welsh, Michelle and Richard Harris, their families, as well as many aunts, uncle and cousins. Memorial services in Kansas City will be held at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Second Presbyterian Church at 318 E. 55th Street. A reception will also be held for her beloved Boston friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Museum of Science. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Judy's honor to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-America Chapter, or to the Pembroke Hill School.