It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mom, Judy, peacefully at the home of her daughter Julie and her family in Minden, Nevada. She fought a brave battle with congestive heart failure and finally succumbed. Heaven will be that much better with Judy there.
She was born the daughter of Ethel Rylee and Clarence Crossley in Sacramento, California.
Judy was raised in Sacramento on J Street with her mother Ethel and her older sister Joan. She worked at Hefner’s Pharmacy and Soda Fountain and loved every minute of it. It was there at 15 where she met her future husband, Richard Leavitt. They fell in love and were
married on October 6, 1956, in Carson City, Nevada.
They adopted three daughters, Janet, Julie, and Joan. The family had fond memories of many trips and happy times together over the years the girls were growing up and beyond.
Her husband Dick was a thoroughbred horse trainer, and they traveled the horse racing circuit together throughout California. In her early years she was a devoted wife and mother. She was a bookkeeper for her husband’s horse racing business and a Para mutual Clerk at Varin’s
Racetracks in Northern California. When grandchildren started coming, they brought her so much joy!
Judy’s hobbies were gardening, reading, travel, her family and shopping. She was a fan of elephants and collected elephant figurines and art over the years. She loved to gamble, too. She was very active in Episcopal Church of Christ in Pinole, California. She was also a part of
HBPA Benevolence Club conducting fundraisers for the betterment of thoroughbreds including the purchase of the first on site horse ambulance.
She is preceded in death by her husband Richard Leavitt, her parents Ethel Rylee and Clarence Crossely as well as her sister Joan Rosenfeld.
She is survived by her three daughters Janet (Ron) Morales of Chattanooga, TN, Julie (Ken) Smith of Minden, NV, and Joan (Richard) Beck of Draper, UT. Judy was blessed with five grandchildren: Lexi, Garrett, Logan, Josh, and Lauren and two great grandchildren Lucas and Maverick. Also, two nieces Sandy and Karen and one nephew Arnie Jr.
Judy will be greatly missed on Earth and greeted in Heaven by those dearest to her heart!
A memorial service will be held September 2, 2023 at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden at 11:30 a.m. followed by a reception at Carson Valley Inn.
Judy’s favorite charities were The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, SPCA and Wounded Warriors if inclined to donate in her honor