Obituary

Judith “Judy” C. Thomas entered heaven on August 10, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of devotion, warmth, and enduring love.

Born in Falls City, Nebraska, Judy was the second daughter of George and Marjorie Lusk. The family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where she was there for her early school years.  They moved back to Falls City, before the family ultimately settled in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended school there from the sixth grade on and graduated from Northeast High School.

Judy began her professional career working in accounting and information technology for Mobil Oil. It was there that she met the love of her life, Marvin Thomas. The two married on April 25, 1964, and recently celebrated 62 wonderful years together. Shortly after their wedding, while Marvin served the US Army in Information Technology at the Pentagon, the couple resided in Arlington, Virginia for nine months.  They then returned to Kansas City to build their family together. They were blessed with two children: Shelli, born in 1967, and Scott, born in 1969.

Judy had a long and successful career at Bayer, spending 24 years in Information Technology and retiring as a Business Analyst in August 2002.

Beyond her career, Judy found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. Ever the lady, Judy always looked her best, but she wasn’t above getting her hands dirty. In her youth she loved working on cars with her dad and had a knack for fixing things.  She had a passion for planting and tending to flowers, decorating the home, cooking, and creating welcoming space for those she loved. Living in a lake community, she treasured spending time outdoors and being on the water. Judy also enjoyed taking and meticulously organizing countless family photographs over the years to preserve cherished memories and the family legacy.

Above all else, Judy’s family was the center of her life. She was a deeply loving wife, mom, grandma, sister, and friend whose happiest moments were spent surrounded by those she held dear. Perhaps her most prized role was that of “Grandma Judy”, taking every opportunity to spend time with her three grandkids. The early years were spent fishing with her grandson and playing dolls with the granddaughters (the girls), having sleepovers with movies, M&Ms and ice cream treats, and creating the most magical birthdays and the holidays.  As the grandkids have grown, she was always there to listen and cheer them on as they chased their dreams. Judy fiercely loved and would do anything for her family!

Judy leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories for her loving husband, Marvin; her daughter, Shelli (Matthew) Pateidl; her son, Scott (Rachel) Thomas; her grandson, Hunter Pateidl; her granddaughters, Kenna Thomas and Raina Thomas; her sister, Sherry Pink; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Marjorie Lusk.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a service to be held at 11:00 a.m. at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Interment will follow at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.