Judith Lee Mynatt died peacefully in her bed at Wexford Senior Living Facility, the evening of Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
Judie was born October 12, 1941 to parents Elloise and Earl Ballou in Kansas City, Mo. Judie was an only child. Judie’s parents were very musical and wanted Judie to be musical too. They started her playing the accordion at age 5. Through lots of practice and perseverance she later became the youngest accordionist to win the National Championship Accordion Competition at age 13. Judie went on to play for weddings, festivals, family gatherings and later played professionally for prestigious restaurants and hotels around Kansas City.
Judie graduated high school from Parkhill High School the year of 1959. Along with playing her accordion she did secretarial work at TWA where she met David. They fell in love and got married in October of 1960 and together they had one child, Victoria Patrice, born in April 1962.
An opportunity arose for David to take a job in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with TWA and Saudi Arabian Airlines. Judie, David and Vicki packed up and moved half way around the world. Being with the airlines allowed their family to travel to many interesting and exotic places throughout the world. Judie loved to collect musical instruments from all the different cultures along with many other unique pieces. These items adorned her house through the years. Every collectable had a story that she loved to share about how she acquired it and the country from where it came.
Judie and David returned to Kansas City and built a house in Camden Point, Missouri. Judie worked as an executive secretary for General Dynamics until David took a job in Miami, Florida.
Judie took care of the household and her hobbies were, playing her piano, painting and tending to her many house plants. Her favorite was to raise Violets with their many colors of purples and pinks. Purple was her favorite color.
Judie and David built their retirement home in Bella Vista Arkansas and enjoyed friends and lake life for a few years until David passed away. Judie stayed in Bella Vista and made friends with the local church widowed ladies until she finally decided to move back to Kansas City where her daughter and grandchildren lived.
Judie attended a class reunion for Parkhill High School where she met Jack Mynatt. Jack was recently widowed and Jack and Judie began a friendship and later got married in March of 2007. They were happily married until Jack’s passing in June of 2024.
Due to Judie’s Macular Degeneration and onset of Dementia she could no longer stay in her home. Vicki helped care for her and found her a nice apartment with assistance for her at McCrite Senior Assisted Living Facility. As Judie’s dementia progressed and she had a couple falls, Vicki later moved her to Wexford Senior Star Living, in the Parkville, Missouri area. Mom enjoyed the facility and the personal care she received here.
Judie is survived by her daughter Victoria (Dan) Ferm, 2 grandchildren, Brittanie (Jeff) Bardon and Jacob (Ashley) Sneden, as well as 4 great grandchildren, Jonathan, Brody, Aubrey and Rylie.
