Obituary for Judith Elaine Devenport
Judith Elaine Devenport January 29, 1939 – June 18, 2023
Judy Devenport passed away on June 18, 2023, at 84 years of age. She was born and raised in Kansas City, MO by her parents Ed and Virginia Bittner. Judy joins her beloved husband George Devenport in death. Judy and George married directly following Judy’s high school graduation, spending the rest of their lives together. Judy was always looking for adventure and George was always willing to follow her into anything. No matter where they were in life, Judy always tried to make the best of the life around her. She was a wonderful seamstress and made many of her kids’ clothes for Proms, Easter, Horse Shows, and Doll Clothes. Judy could play the piano by ear and she loved to make music. She worked in lots of different industries throughout her life driven solely by her wit, grit, and sociability. She was a woman born into the wrong generation before women had true agency and independence but she was still a force to be reckoned with and George was her support. Judy always loved animals and impulsively bought horses, pigs, and chickens. Her children grew up knowing and loving animals. Showing horses was a large part of the family’s entertainment as well as “lake life”. Judy loved her Chiefs. She got to see 3 Superbowl wins and that made her extremely happy.
Later in life, Judy and George fostered and rescued many dogs of all shapes and sizes. She never met a dog she didn’t love and could never say no to a dog in need. The dogs that no one wanted, the ones with large medical needs or missing limbs she always welcomed into her home and heart. Her dogs equally adored her. Other than dogs, she equally loved a party. Forever the social butterfly, Judy couldn’t say no to a good time or a tequila shot. She made friends with every person at the party, with every server at the restaurant or patron at the bar. She especially loved nothing more than a cold cocktail at the lake. She and George loved sitting side by side looking over the lake for hours on end, content in the presence of one another. But George was certainly her one true love. George and Judy were together for 65 years. Every day wasn’t easy, but they truly loved each other, even the difficult and imperfect parts of one another. They were always on each other’s team, they always stood together through all the challenges of life. Judy never could feel quite whole after George passed. 65 years together wasn’t enough for her. On June 18th she followed George into the next world. She walked along the heavenly path and her body was healed from age, she could once again run. Her feet and legs mended. There’s no doubt that she ran toward George. Their individual soul dogs, Winston and Rufus, on either side of him and he said “We’ve been waiting for you” (while “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, Judy’s favorite song, played in the distance). All because George and Judy were true Soulmates, and Soulmates always find each other in every lifetime. To truly love in this life and to be loved, is the greatest gift we can ask for, because “True love stories never have endings”.
Judy is survived by her three children: Dawn (Mike) Allen, Kent (Nancy) Devenport, and Jill Woods. Seven Grandchildren: Riki and Jace (Kelcee) Allen, Drew (Kat) and Anne Devenport, Courtnie, Bailee and Ashlea (Zach Banks) Woods and five great-grandchildren Aislynn and Harlee Banks, Ava and Emma Devenport, and Ozzy George Allen.
There will be a celebration of life for Judy and George on Thursday, July 6th at Longbell’s, 3385 SW Fascination Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 from 3-6pm. Please come celebrate with us! It will be casual attire, No suits needed as Judy and George would request.
Judy Devenport passed away on June 18, 2023, at 84 years of age. She was born and raised in Kansas City, MO by her parents Ed and Virginia Bittner. Judy joins her beloved husband George Devenport in death. Judy and George married directly following Judy’s high school graduation, spending the rest of their lives together. Judy was always looking for adventure and George was always willing to follow her into anything. No matter where they were in life, Judy always tried to make the best of the life around her. She was a wonderful seamstress and made many of her kids’ clothes for Proms, Easter, Horse Shows, and Doll Clothes. Judy could play the piano by ear and she loved to make music. She worked in lots of different industries throughout her life driven solely by her wit, grit, and sociability. She was a woman born into the wrong generation before women had true agency and independence but she was still a force to be reckoned with and George was her support. Judy always loved animals and impulsively bought horses, pigs, and chickens. Her children grew up knowing and loving animals. Showing horses was a large part of the family’s entertainment as well as “lake life”. Judy loved her Chiefs. She got to see 3 Superbowl wins and that made her extremely happy.
Later in life, Judy and George fostered and rescued many dogs of all shapes and sizes. She never met a dog she didn’t love and could never say no to a dog in need. The dogs that no one wanted, the ones with large medical needs or missing limbs she always welcomed into her home and heart. Her dogs equally adored her. Other than dogs, she equally loved a party. Forever the social butterfly, Judy couldn’t say no to a good time or a tequila shot. She made friends with every person at the party, with every server at the restaurant or patron at the bar. She especially loved nothing more than a cold cocktail at the lake. She and George loved sitting side by side looking over the lake for hours on end, content in the presence of one another. But George was certainly her one true love. George and Judy were together for 65 years. Every day wasn’t easy, but they truly loved each other, even the difficult and imperfect parts of one another. They were always on each other’s team, they always stood together through all the challenges of life. Judy never could feel quite whole after George passed. 65 years together wasn’t enough for her. On June 18th she followed George into the next world. She walked along the heavenly path and her body was healed from age, she could once again run. Her feet and legs mended. There’s no doubt that she ran toward George. Their individual soul dogs, Winston and Rufus, on either side of him and he said “We’ve been waiting for you” (while “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, Judy’s favorite song, played in the distance). All because George and Judy were true Soulmates, and Soulmates always find each other in every lifetime. To truly love in this life and to be loved, is the greatest gift we can ask for, because “True love stories never have endings”.
Judy is survived by her three children: Dawn (Mike) Allen, Kent (Nancy) Devenport, and Jill Woods. Seven Grandchildren: Riki and Jace (Kelcee) Allen, Drew (Kat) and Anne Devenport, Courtnie, Bailee and Ashlea (Zach Banks) Woods and five great-grandchildren Aislynn and Harlee Banks, Ava and Emma Devenport, and Ozzy George Allen.
There will be a celebration of life for Judy and George on Thursday, July 6th at Longbell’s, 3385 SW Fascination Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 from 3-6pm. Please come celebrate with us! It will be casual attire, No suits needed as Judy and George would request.