Obituary for Judith Peterson (Mayhew)
Judith Arlene (Mayhew) Peterson, age 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway, Arkansas.
Judy was born July 24, 1940 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, Iowa to John A. and L. Darlene (Kimball) Mayhew. She grew up on the family farm in rural Mercer County near Aledo, Illinois and graduated from Aledo High School. She would later return to school to continue her studies in nursing, first in Illinois to become a CNA, and then in Arkansas to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Judy was united in marriage on June 5, 1959, with James R. Murphy of New Boston, Illinois. This union was blessed with four children. They would later divorce, and on February 17, 1968, Judy married Charles D. “Pete” Peterson of rural Milan, Illinois. This union was blessed with three children.
In addition to being a wife and mother, during her lifetime Judy held several occupations and experiences. Among them were working as a case worker for Children and Family Services of Rock Island County, a CNA at Franciscan Hospital in Rock Island and Mercer County Hospital, and an LPN at St. Andrews Place in Conway, Arkansas. In the early 80’s she drove an armored truck. For the first 52 years of her life, until 1992, she was an active member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Reynolds, Illinois. That year she and Pete moved to Quitman, Arkansas where she became active at Howard General Baptist Church and was inspired to join a mission team and traveled to Honduras to do God’s work there. It was at this church where she found her true calling of working with those in need through their food pantry ministry. It was a labor of love for her until recent months as her health began to fail. She loved her family, her church, animals, her Lord, and helping people.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Pete, a sister, Nancy Rumler, two brothers, Darryl (Sally) Mayhew, and Tom Mayhew, and sisters-in-law Joyce Arendt and Sharon Mayhew. Also surviving are her children; Carolyn (Neil) Hofer, Terry Murphy, Diana (Tim) Connolly, John S. (Amanda) Murphy, Kimberly (Steve McMahon) Allison, Steven (Wendy Blair) Peterson, Amy (Dustin) Townsend, and Lori (Jim) Kingsbury and many other extended family members and friends.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Jim, her brother Gary Mayhew, her sister, Barb Zaborac, and a stepdaughter Vicki (Mike) Bradley.
A Service of Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Howard General Baptist Church, Quitman, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Howard General Baptist Church.
Judy was born July 24, 1940 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, Iowa to John A. and L. Darlene (Kimball) Mayhew. She grew up on the family farm in rural Mercer County near Aledo, Illinois and graduated from Aledo High School. She would later return to school to continue her studies in nursing, first in Illinois to become a CNA, and then in Arkansas to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Judy was united in marriage on June 5, 1959, with James R. Murphy of New Boston, Illinois. This union was blessed with four children. They would later divorce, and on February 17, 1968, Judy married Charles D. “Pete” Peterson of rural Milan, Illinois. This union was blessed with three children.
In addition to being a wife and mother, during her lifetime Judy held several occupations and experiences. Among them were working as a case worker for Children and Family Services of Rock Island County, a CNA at Franciscan Hospital in Rock Island and Mercer County Hospital, and an LPN at St. Andrews Place in Conway, Arkansas. In the early 80’s she drove an armored truck. For the first 52 years of her life, until 1992, she was an active member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Reynolds, Illinois. That year she and Pete moved to Quitman, Arkansas where she became active at Howard General Baptist Church and was inspired to join a mission team and traveled to Honduras to do God’s work there. It was at this church where she found her true calling of working with those in need through their food pantry ministry. It was a labor of love for her until recent months as her health began to fail. She loved her family, her church, animals, her Lord, and helping people.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Pete, a sister, Nancy Rumler, two brothers, Darryl (Sally) Mayhew, and Tom Mayhew, and sisters-in-law Joyce Arendt and Sharon Mayhew. Also surviving are her children; Carolyn (Neil) Hofer, Terry Murphy, Diana (Tim) Connolly, John S. (Amanda) Murphy, Kimberly (Steve McMahon) Allison, Steven (Wendy Blair) Peterson, Amy (Dustin) Townsend, and Lori (Jim) Kingsbury and many other extended family members and friends.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Jim, her brother Gary Mayhew, her sister, Barb Zaborac, and a stepdaughter Vicki (Mike) Bradley.
A Service of Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Howard General Baptist Church, Quitman, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Howard General Baptist Church.