Judy Elaine (Forson) Smith

Judy Elaine (Forson) Smith, age 82, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2026, at the Healthcare Resort of Olathe in Olathe, Kansas, following a period of declining health.

Judy was born on November 30, 1943, in Burbank, California, to Charlie and Esther (Green) Forson, the youngest of three daughters. Their family moved around California during her childhood and her father’s tragic death in 1958 impacted her as a teen.

Judy graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California in 1962 and then attended Valley College. She was working as a carhop at the A&W Drive-In when she met a charming young man from Iowa. Pete Smith had to ask her three times before she finally agreed to go out with him. After dating for nearly a year, Pete proposed the night before she graduated as a Medical Assistant. They were married on September 8, 1963 in Van Nuys and were blessed with two sons before moving to Iowa to help his family on the Smith Apple Orchard.

Soon after coming to Manchester, Iowa, Judy’s curiosity was sparked by the palm leaves her sons brought home from church. She began reading her son’s Bible and discovered the significance behind them. She was fascinated by the lessons she learned and amazed by God’s love for us, accepting the Lord Jesus as her Savior and being baptized while pregnant with their daughter. Judy had a passion for teaching youth about that same love she had experienced through the Bible, participating in AWANA Clubs at their church.

Judy loved the Caribbean cruises they were fortunate enough to be able to take. They also enjoyed their time as empty-nesters traveling around the US in their fifth-wheel trailer, seeing new sights as well as revisiting places from their California years. After touring the country, they decided to settle down for a few years in Mesa, Arizona.

Judy was well known for her deep love of animals, especially dachshunds. Over the years, she owned many of them and raised multiple litters of puppies to sell. Her last pair, Jack and Jill, went everywhere with them.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Esther; her sisters, Norvella and Jo; her son, Alan; and her husband of 62 years, Pete. She is survived by her children, David (Jennie) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Judith Anne of Reus, Spain; and her eight treasured grandchildren: Justin, Allison (Nate) Anderson, Katelyn (Jonah) Buss, Megan, Jordan, Lauren, Aina, and Wendy. She was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild in April 2027.

Pete and Judy will be inurned together at Coffins Grove-Baker Cemetery in Manchester, Iowa, at a private graveside service on Friday, November 6, 2026.

A joint memorial service will be held at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home, 925 W Main Street in Manchester on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. A funeral reception with refreshments will follow from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sister Hill Inn, 704 E Main Street, Manchester.