KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Judy Cook-Bowsky joined her parents Russell and Beulah Bowsky and her brother Jim Bowsky in eternal life at the age of 64. She leaves behind her children Angela and Aaron Cook, her granddaughter Molly Cook, and her three brothers Bill, Roger, and Jack Bowsky. She also leaves behind many close friends and family.
Judy was born on March 2, 1952, in Sandusky, Mich. and moved to Great Bend at a young age. Following high school, she attended Graceland University and finished her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1975. She went on to receive a Masters in Public Administration at the University of Kansas in 1979.
Judy worked for two years establishing satellite health care clinics in several medically underserved villages in the rural mountains of Honduras. Throughout her career, Judy worked at many hospitals in the Kansas City metro area. She believed in passionately advocating for each patient to provide them with the best care possible and she loved being a nurse.
Judy retired from nursing at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs in 2015 when she was diagnosed with advanced stage Multiple Myeloma. After completing her first round of chemotherapy, Judy lost her battle to complications from her cancer on June 7, 2016. She passed with her son and daughter holding her hand with soothing hymns playing in the background.
In Judy’s younger years, she loved traveling, learning, biking and running marathons. In later years, Judy loved raising her children, gardening in her backyard, attending her local Community of Christ church, and being generous and compassionate to all people.
A memorial service will be held in her honor at Norton Heights Community of Christ Church, located at 436 Norton Ave., Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday, June 25, 2016. Friends and family will be received at 2:30 p.m. The service will be held at 3 p.m. with potluck immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations in Judy’s honor may be made to Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing. Judy enjoyed attending classes and support groups through them as they help people affected by serious or chronic physical illness.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 23, 2016**
