Obituary

Judith Counce, 70, died surrounded by family and friends in her home in Goodyear, Arizona on July 17, 2018 following a courageous battle with appendiceal cancer.

She was born on January 4, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Harry Deane and Ella Catherine (Shore) Highfill. She graduated from Wichita North High School and earned a B.A. in accounting from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. She lived in Wichita, Kansas; Boise, Idaho; Hays, Kansas; and then in Dodge City, Kansas from 1976 until 2017, when she and husband Mitch retired to the Phoenix area. She worked at Servi-Tech, Inc. for 15 years, finishing her time at the company as Business Manager. Subsequently she worked as an investment account advisor for Waddell & Reed, and then for Smoll & Banning, LLC. She enjoyed golf, trout fishing, scuba diving, and home decorating. She and Mitch were members of the First United Methodist Church of Dodge City.

She is survived by her husband Mitch, Goodyear, Arizona; daughter Andrea Laue and son-in-law Brian King, San Mateo, California; and brother Gary Highfill, Cameron, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She was cremated, and her ashes will be spread in the mountains. Celebrations of life will be held in the fall.