Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Judy Boardman Balfour, BHS '53 (1935-2024)


 November 15, 1952 Marriage of Judy and Ken Balfour

Judith Ann Boardman Balfour
November 19, 1935 - September 18, 2024

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Judith Balfour Obituary

Judith Ann Balfour 88, passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at Del Webb Hospital in Surprise, AZ. Judy was born on November 19, 1935 in Los Angeles, California, to Amy Katherine Bostwick and William (Mack) McDowell Pitts. After her father Mack's death when she was only 3 years old, she was adopted by her step-father Richard Boardman. Growing up in Los Angeles, she held a deep love of the ocean and spent her childhood traveling by trolley to the beach with her friends. While attending Burbank High School she met her future husband and love of her life, Kenneth Balfour. Ken and Judy married on November 15, 1952 and raised three children, Ronald, Mark and Janet together while living in the San Fernando Valley. The family moved to Cortez, Colorado in 1975. Judy worked in the administration office of the Montezuma- Cortez High School, where many of the students affectionately referred to her as their "school mom". After retiring to Ajo, Arizona in 1995, her love of reading and ceramics led her to her second career working for Pima County at both the library and in the ceramics studio for many years where she made precious, lifelong friends.

Judy loved to cook, bake and entertain, especially when it meant having her family and friends gathered together for one of her delicious meals. An accomplished crafter, she would sew beautiful dresses for herself or matching outfits for her nieces and daughter to wear on holidays, lovingly hand-stitched quilts and cross-stitched Christmas stockings to give her grand-children, as well as painting ceramics and making stained glass pieces for friends and family. Her love of music was lifelong and a touchstone in her life. She played the piano and organ from childhood into her 80s. Judy enjoyed nights out and traveling to attend musicals and concerts like Wicked, Neil Diamond, Elton John, and Rod Stewart well into her 80s. Traveling to California every Spring to watch her grandson in his school musical was a trip she looked forward to every year.

What she loved more than anything else was her family and friends. Judy leaves behind her husband, Kenneth Balfour of Ajo, Az; her sons Mark Balfour of Ajo, AZ and Ronald (Jeannie) Balfour of Bloomfield, NM; her daughter Janet (Sven) Balfour-Nilsson of Los Angeles, CA; her 4 grandchildren, Trever Balfour, Ryan Balfour, Lindsey Davis and Dylan Nilsson; and 6 great grandchildren.

Judy is preceded in death by her sister Virginia Ferguson, grandson Mark Randall Balfour, Jr. and best friend, Janet Rea.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow what a ride!" Hunter S. Thompson

A memorial will be planned for a future date.
 

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