Judith “Judy” DeFord
Judith “Judy” DeFord
DeBary, Fla.
Judith “Judy” DeFord, 78, of DeBary, Fla., formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died of a sudden illness on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at the Linwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids. Reception will follow entombment at the Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. A celebration of Judy’s life will take place in Florida at a later date.
A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Judy, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.
Judy was born Nov. 13, 1944, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Mike and Helen (Carlson) Irven. She graduated from Bloomfield High School, Class of 1963, and went on to attend business college. Judy was united in marriage to Harry DeFord on Dec. 30, 1966, in Bloomfield, Iowa. She worked in production at Square D for over 33 years until her retirement in 2001. Judy loved playing Bingo, cards, and going out with her friends. Above all else, Judy’s grandchildren were her bright spot and she loved to spoil them.
Survivors include her children, Steven (Natalie) DeFord of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Camy Jo DeFord of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Stevie DeFord, Kaylee DeFord, Jake Schiel and Katee Jo Schiel; stepgrandchildren, Brianna Didriksen and Hunter Didriksen; siblings, Gary (Jamie) Irven of Hanna City, Ill., and Jan (Bill) Daft of Burlington, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Penny (Charlie) Wilcox of Drakesville, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry DeFord; parents, Mike and Helen Irven; sister, Connie Jo Coulter; and brother-in-law, Mike Coulter.
Memorials may be directed to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Please share a memory of Judy at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.