Obituary of Judith Marie Smith

Judy Smith

Judith Marie Smith was born on February 6th, 1938 to Raymond and Margaret Bowes in Denver, Colorado. She joined brothers and sisters Margaret, “Bud”, Jane, Jerome, Johnny, and “Big Dave” and was followed by brother Danny and sister Carol. One big happy Irish Catholic family.

She attended Loyola and Cathedral Schools and participated in yearly musicals the nuns put on, whether it was a Flamenco Dance or a Waltz, wearing costumes her mother Margaret aka “Nanny” made, showing off her dance skills she got from her dad Ray aka “Papa” who was a part-time instructor with the Arthur Murray School of Dance. She would have graduated high school but instead, she welcomed her son “Lil” Dave on October 4th, 1956. While working at the Fashion Bar downtown, she took the bus to work and in turn befriended the driver of that bus, Jim Smith. They married in 1972 in Las Vegas. After her mother passed away and her father moved into his own apartment, Jim and Judy bought the house she and her siblings grew up in. Papa Bowes lived nearby and she helped care for him until he passed away in 1995.

Together, Jim and Judy stayed active by hosting gatherings for friends and family and traveled by bus, boat, planes, once by train, and automobiles to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Washington, D.C., and all over the United States. They visited the Panama Canal and took son David to see the Great Sand Dunes and the Royal Gorge. Jim and Judy enjoyed gambling while on vacation in Las Vegas or on a day trip to Central City, her favorite being the slots! Occasionally, they would visit nearby racetracks and enjoy a greyhound or horse race. Both would frequently go bowling, golfing, or fishing as they liked getting out and about.

After David married Denise in 1978, Judy loved helping by babysitting her grandkids Amber and Josh. She would spoil them both and looked forward to taking Josh fishing or letting Amber win a hand or two of Uno in the R.V. parked in the driveway.

In 1990, Judy was reunited with her daughters Barb, Melissa, and Judy. The family welcomed Barb and her children Jesse, Keri, and Amy; Melissa and her son Alex; and Judy and her children Amber and Kyle, with open arms!

Jim and Judy continued to help out and couldn’t wait to watch great-granddaughter Samantha and loved spending quality time with family. They were married just shy of 40 years when Judy was preceded in death by Jim in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her Mother and Father, brothers Bud, Jerome, Johnny, Danny, and sister Jane. 

On July 2, 2023, Judy was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and pancreatic cancer. When she passed away at home, surrounded by family on July 18th, 2023, she left us peacefully in her sleep to start her next chapter.

You will forever be loved and live on in our hearts and memories!

Memorial Service to be held

 Monday, August 7th, 2023 1:30‐3:30

Community Recreation Center

                                                          6842 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80002