Judy Geisler

Judy Ball Geisler
1939 - 2017

Judy Ball Geisler, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, returned to Heavenly Father, August 16, 2017.

She was born July 31, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Arthur Brown Ball and Margaret Elkins Ball. She loved growing up in Salt Lake City with her older sister and two brothers.  Her parents owned Ball Market and Motel on 6th North and Judy spent many hours cleaning motel rooms top to bottom; she learned to be an impeccable housekeeper.  In her early years, she was a bit of a tomboy and was as competitive as many of the boys in the neighborhood.  She met the love of her life, Heber, in 5th grade while sleigh riding.  Together as children they enjoyed stickball, basketball, building soap box cars and hiking high in the hills above the Capitol Building.

Later at West High, Judy became head cheerleader and enjoyed cheering Heber on in all three sports.  After high school, Judy briefly attended BYU, majoring in sunbathing.  Heber was attending Utah State on a football scholarship.  After her first semester, Judy left BYU and her and Heber were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Logan, Utah while Heber finished his Engineering Degree.

After graduating, Heber accepted a job at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington.  Judy was always up for adventure, having three children in three years.  The young family then relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and continued to grow their family while Heber worked for Motorola.  Judy loved motherhood above all else and made sure each child had a new clean outfit and freshly combed hair before Heber came home from work.

Heber and Judy both missed the Salt Lake Valley and ended up purchasing an acre of land in the then rural Cottonwood Heights and lived there for nearly 50 years.  Judy was later able to build her dream home in her own backyard.  After her kids were grown and raised, Judy went to the work for the first time as a special needs assistant at Albion Middle School.  She loved those kids almost as much as her own.

Judy had many artistic talents.  She excelled in oil painting and was always the first one called to decorate for ward parties.  Her posters and road show props were known throughout the stake and her home was finely decorated.  Her Christmas trees and gift wrapped presents were the envy of the neighborhood.  During Christmas season, Judy gift wrapped for ZCMI in order to provide a beautiful Christmas for her family. Her tomboy ways continued. She was a member of a women’s golf league and bowling league for more than 30 years and could beat any of her sons in an arm wrestle. She was often photographed flexing her muscles or throwing her mean curveball. She even played semi pro fast pitch softball for the Salk Lake Shamrocks. Other hobbies included crafting, creating beautiful flower gardens and standup impromptu comedy. Her family was her entire world.  She was the happiest on Sunday afternoons when they all rolled in.  The kids would plead for Grandma to entertain them with one of her famous West High cheers.  None will ever forget “Victory, Victory to the Panthers”!!  Judy was the life of the party.  She loved to laugh, especially with her sister, Darlene. There was never a day, where she didn’t smile, she wasn’t kind nor she wouldn’t offer you a beautiful compliment.

Her recipes were famous as she hosted many a dinner party. No one could outdo her famous pot roast, potato salad or mashed potatoes.  Of all the foods she mastered though, her favorite treat was still a Hostess cupcake and a Big Gulp from Holiday Oil.  There was never a day without a Pepsi in the fridge. Later in life, she was maneuvered by medical advice to Diet coke kicking and screaming. In her later years, she got big into backyard barbecues.  Oftentimes, these dinners got a little loud and a little out of hand.

Judy loved traveling.  She had a special place in her heart for Hawaii and California beaches.  She also enjoyed her many cruises with Heber, seeing many different parts of the country.

Above all, Judy loved spending time at her second home in St. George.  Who would have thought that a 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo could sleep 40 so comfortably.  A weekend at the condo with all the family was always her greatest joy.  Despite an average 2 hours of sleep and a guaranteed cold shower, the best of memories were made here.

Judy gave many hours of unending service to her neighborhood and ward family.  She shared her talents by providing many dinners for those in need.  She was very popular amongst her friends and belonged to several gangs – lunch gangs that is!  She also looked forward to her monthly card group where sometimes the games weren’t played but the laughs were a plenty.

Judy had a sweet, quiet Testimony of the Gospel.  Her greatest desire for her children and grandchildren was to marry in the temple and have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ.  She was active in her ward and held many callings such as stake sports director, Primary president, chorister and stake camp director.  Anyone who went to camp with Judy, was sure to be a recipient of her mischievous pranks.

Goodness and sweetness emanated from Judy.  There wasn’t a baby anywhere she couldn’t make smile or a spirit she couldn’t lift.  She was loved and adored by all 53 of her cherished family and adopted by many as “Miss Judy”.  She will be missed beyond belief.  She is finally reunited with her mom and dad who she has missed immensely.  Judy is survived by her loving husband, Heber, her six children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 21, 2017, 11:00 a.m. at the Brighton 3rd Ward, 2301 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.). A visitation will be held Sunday, August 20, 2017, Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.) from 6-8 p.m. and the day of the service at the church from 10:00-10:45 a.m.  Interment Mountain View Memorial Estates.
Funeral Recording