Judith Catherine de Bethune Sully Neihart

1938 ~ 2022

Millcreek, UT- Judith (“Judy”) Catherine de Bethune SullyNeihart, 84, of Millcreek, UT passed away peacefully in her sleep under the full strawberry moon on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

She was born on January 8, 1938, to Charles and Grace de Bethune Sully in Portland, Oregon. A precocious girl, Judy graduated from Sisters High School two years early in 1954 and proceeded to attend Bend Community College for a short time.

At the age of 17, she married Russell Neihart, whom she later divorced. They had 5 children together: Jo Ellen, David, Paul, Mark, and Lisa.

Judy worked jobs in various industries while juggling to raise her five children. In 2014, she retired from Salt Lake County Aging Services, where she spent her last working years as the director at Midvale Senior Center.

Judy loved to travel and was happiest when spending time with her family. She regularly traveled to the Oregon Coast during the summers with her kids and stopped to visit their grandparents and other extended family in Bend along the way. These Oregon Coast trips extended into the next generation and became a cherished memory for her grandchildren too. Grandma Judy also paved the way for her grandchildren to spend summers swimming competitively at the Cottonwood Country Club. She was an avid cook who took her love of cooking to Spoons ‘n Spice, where she worked for several years–always amazing us with new kitchen gadgetry that she brought home.

An engaged community member, Judy was involved in myriad activities on top of work. Her passions ranged from serving as the President of the Ladies Association at the Cottonwood Country Club to holding a leadership position in the Crones Counsel and being part of the delegation to promote the Winter Olympics in Utah, even taking a trip to Nagano, Japan in the 90s. In recent years, she adopted a furry companion from the Utah Humane Society, Missy.

Judy is survived by her children Jo Ellen, David, Mark (Heidi), and Lisa (Cory); 13 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; her special friends, Linda Savage and Terry Pia; and her brothers Jim of Redmond, OR and Chuck of Eugene, OR.

She was preceded in death by her son, Paul, and her parents. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of her favorite Utah Organizations: Red Butte Garden, The Utah Humane Society, Equality Utah, or the Salt Lake Acting Company. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.