Judy Ann Godwin

On May 19, 2025, Judy Ann Godwin, beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, returned to her Father in Heaven and Savior and joined her husband on the other side of the veil.

Judy was born September 30, 1945 to Leo C. Merkley and Ejvor (Johnson) Merkley in Tempe, Arizona. She was raised in Mesa with three brothers and three sisters.

Graduating from Mesa High School with honors she attended BYU for one semester, where she met her husband, Doug. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They spent their early married life moving from state to state as they chased Doug’s education. In 1973, they settled in Bryan/College Station, Texas where Doug became a professor at Texas A&M University. There they raised their 4 children; Bob, Deb, Kenneth, and Jim.

In her early 30s, she took a class in cake decorating and found she had a natural talent and a love for it. So, she turned it into a career. Working mainly for Texas A&M catering, she made cakes for banquets, weddings and university sponsored occasions. She also enjoyed working behind the scenes for the community theatre group in Bryan, TX, and in church road shows. Self-taught in stage make-up, she created facial hair from a book she checked out of the library. She would test her creations on herself and walk around the house as a character from the upcoming performance.

She loved being a grandmother and was thrilled when she and Doug moved to St. George, Utah to be closer to her children and grandchildren. After Doug retired from Dixie State University (Utah Tech), they served a mission for the St. George Institute of Religion. Judy enjoyed serving the students, faculty, and staff in this calling.

For her family and close friends, the value of her life was less about her accomplishments and more about the person she was. Judy was a very quiet person, but those who knew her best reveled in the fact that she had a thick slice of ham and a great sense of humor. She loved to sing and was an amazing story teller. Most importantly, she had the gift of empathy. She knew how to love and how to serve those she loved.

Judy leaves her 4 children, her son Bob and Joy (Smithfield, Ut), daughter Deb (St. George, Ut), son Kenneth (St. George, Ut), son Jim and Diana (Fruit Heights, Ut). She also leaves 8 grandchildren, Amee Godwin, Paige Godwin, Reston & Jessica Godwin, Liz & Kaden Balls, Cris & Emma Godwin, Jarhed Pena, Michael Godwin, Kipper Godwin, Jonny Godwin; and 3 great-grandchildren, Mia Pena, Milo Pena, Theo Godwin, and (coming soon) Ejvor Balls. She also leaves her “adopted” Atkinson grandchildren, all of her siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is enjoying a happy reunion with her husband of 58 years, her parents, and 2 brothers-in-law.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11:00 am, Green Valley 6th Ward Chapel (124 Valley View Dr). A visitation will begin at 9:30 - 10:45am that day at the same location. Interment at Tonaquint Cemetery under the direction of McMillan Mortuary. Funeral services may be viewed by clicking the livestream below.