JUDY HASTEDT

Judy Hastedt of Elgin, Texas, was born August 25, 1948, to Doug and Virginia Hastedt in Columbus, Texas. She passed from this life on Friday, August 19, 2022, at the age of 73 surrounded by her long-term friends Isabella Ceplecha, Mary Plunk, Bill Evans, and her caregiver Connie Davis.

Judy attended public schools in Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School in 1966. As a senior she was honored to be selected as FFA Sweetheart. She was especially pleased that her good friend Randy Brock was the driver for the parade float. After graduation, Judy went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

Judy went to work at the University of Texas police department, where she was among the class of the first three women police officers for that force. They were also the first three female commissioned police officers in the state of Texas. Later, Judy attended the University of Texas Nursing School at Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Nursing. After graduating and becoming an RN, she went to work at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston in 1978. She maintained life-long friendships with several of her coworkers there and attended reunions with them up until recently.

Judy later moved to Los Angeles and worked at Glendale Adventist Medical Center as a psychiatric nurse for a number of years. After the Northridge earthquake, Judy decided it was time to leave Los Angeles. She returned to Austin and began work at St. David’s Hospital. It was there that she met her beloved friend Isabella. Because of their shared love of the ocean, they moved to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Judy enjoyed living on the ocean, but eventually Mother Nature struck again with a series of hurricanes hitting their area. They moved back to Los Angeles and she returned to work at Glendale Adventist in psychiatric nursing.

Judy retired from nursing and moved back to Texas again. She and Isabella settled on a small ranch outside of Elgin where they had three horses and two cats. Her cat, Peekaboo, was her constant companion and good friend. Judy enjoyed having a good time, spending time with friends, playing cards, horseback riding, and travelling. On one of her travels, Judy was in the MGM Grand fire in Las Vegas and was rescued from her hotel room by helicopter. There was never a dull moment with Judy.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Douglas James and Virginia Thomas Hastedt, and her brothers, Douglas James Hastedt, Jr. (Jim) and Daniel Lee Hastedt (Dan).

She is survived by beloved friend Isabella Ceplecha; aunt Laura Hastedt; sister-in-law Cassandra Hastedt; nephews David Hastedt and wife Erin, and Robert Hastedt and his girlfriend Ashley Peterson; three great nephews; and three great nieces.

Special thanks is given to her caregiver Connie Davis.

Visitation will be Saturday, September 3, 2022, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas. Memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. and will be officiated by Leah King.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared at www. hennekefuneralhome.com.