Judy Darlene (Dowden) Slump, age 57, of Henderson

Judy Darlene (Dowden) Slump, age 57, of Henderson, died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at the Hospice With Heart Hospice House in Glenwood, after an extended illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the Henderson Christian Church.  Burial was in the Farm Creek Cemetery near Henderson.

    She was born March 9, 1952, in Maryville, Mo., the daughter of Willis Eldon and Cleta Darlene (Wilson) Dowden.  She was raised in Barnard, Mo. and graduated from South Nodaway High School.  She continued her education at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo., where she also graduated.  She married Merrill Slump on March 8, 1980, in Barnard.

    She worked at Robbins Lightning Company during and after college, then she taught at Elkhorn Kimballton and Nishna Valley High Schools.  After her children were born she substitute taught for several years.   She was an avid sports enthusiast.  She enjoyed basketball, volleyball, competitive softball, and golf.  She was an outdoor person, enjoying helping on the farm as well as traveling, especially their vacations to the lake.  She was a very active member of the Henderson Christian Church where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school.  She also served on the Mills County 4-H Youth Committee.

     She was preceded in death by her grandparents Roy and Bertha Wilson; and Forrest and Mary Dowden; her parents; infant brother Stephen Dowden; and infant sisters Janet and Virginia Dowden. Survivors include her husband Merrill Slump of Henderson; daughters Tracy McCormick and husband Dr. Matt McCormick of Omaha; and Tricia Sciorrotta and husband Andrew of Des Moines; sister Jody Lager of Barnard, Mo.; father-in-law and mother-in-law Delaine and Neva Slump of Henderson; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

    Memorials suggested to Henderson Christian Church, the Macedonia Ambulance, Creighton Oncology Department, or the Relay For Life. Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel of Red Oak, was in charge of arrangements.