Obituary of Judy K Wickham

Judy Kaye Softley Wickham was born on September 29, 1946, in Kearney, NE and died on November 18, 2020 in Tucson, AZ. Judy had fought a courageous battle against Multiple Myeloma for 15 years. Judy’s parents were Lloyd and Alice Klienschmidt Softley. The family moved to Chadron, NE when Judy was six years old. She attended Chadron HS and graduated from Chadron State College with a degree in Music Education. She was recognized as an honor graduate of CSC and recognized a member of Who’s Who in America’s Colleges and Universities. Judy taught music in Oshkosh, North Platte and Gering, NE public schools. It was in Oshkosh where she met William Wickham. After Bill’s return from service in Vietnam they married and then moved to a number of locations in the US, where she had various careers in banking and insurance. She retired from Aetna Insurance in 2002 and they moved from Connecticut to Arizona and have lived at the Highlands at Dove Mountain for the last 18 years. Judy was a proud member of PEO, Chapter CV, and an active member of St Mark’s UMC and enjoyed her many friends from years past and those made while in AZ. Music was an important part of her life and she loved attending concerts wherever she lived. She played in six different handbell choirs.

Judy is survived by her husband, Bill, brother, Kenneth Softley of Topeka, KS, his children Kimberly and Jeffery, brother and sister-in-law, James and Denise Wickham of Alma, NE and their children Ryan, Courtney and Chris, and their spouses, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister, Helen Moore, brother, Lloyd Softley, Jr and her parents. Due to COVID restrictions a memorial service will be held at a later date. Her ashes will be interred in the St Mark’s Memorial Garden with a private service.

Judy had designated her memorials to either the St. Mark’s Endowment Fund, 1431 W. Magee Rd., Tucson, AZ 85704, or to the William and Judy Wickham scholarship Endowment at Chadron State College