judith garvey

Judith MacKenzie Garvey died peacefully on May 18th, 2023, following a long fight with cancer.

She was born on March 14th, 1938, to Kenneth and Yolonne MacKenzie. She and her sister Jane (Dyer) grew up in Weirton, West Virginia. She graduated from West Virginia University in 1959 with a degree in political science and the intention of studying law, but on a dare interviewed and was hired as a stewardess. In a few years she was an instructor of stewardesses for American Airlines. Known as Scottie MacKenzie she flew out of Chicago and Dallas in the 1960s, the heyday of silver service, white-gloved air travel. She travelled throughout the US and on to Europe, China, and Japan. She met a surgeon called James M. Garvey. They married in secret in a small Texas town, as airline rules required stewardesses to remain single.

They returned to Weirton to raise a family, and there she pursued her passion for golf in earnest. She had a remarkably focused, highly competitive nature and excelled at many sports, but on a golf course she could put the ball nearly anywhere she liked. Her club was the driver, and she hit it hard. She played from the men’s tees for laughs, outdriving players who were bigger and stronger. She won the William’s Country Club Women’s Championship 19 years running and competed as an amateur with success in tournaments throughout the 70s and 80s.

She became an LPGA Professional, travelling the circuit as a teaching pro, with a scientist’s appreciation of the physics of the golf swing. She settled in Florida to teach, collect seashells, and throw tennis balls for dogs on the beach, but retired and returned to Weirton to look after her mother. She loved old tools, working on cars (she rebuilt a Triumph TR-3), refinishing golf clubs, Gershwin, chocolate, Hungarian stuffed peppers, and books and films about war and espionage.

She will be remembered with love by friends and family, her son James (Viola) Garvey, nephews Kenneth (Gale) Dyer, Brian Dyer, Tim Garvey, Ron Garvey, and a grandson she adored, called Finn.

Judy’s family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 12 noon to 2 PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street Weirton, WV.

A private family interment will follow the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Judy’s memory to the charity of your choice.

Share tributes at www.grecohertnick.com

Services

Visitation: June 3, 2023 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home
3219 Main Street
Weirton, WV 26062

(304) 748-3219
http://grecohertnick.com

Private: June 3, 2023 12:00 am

Chestnut Ridge Cemetery

Florence, PA 15021


Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. My Heart is hurting for Your Loss ! What a Firecracker !! She was such a Good Friend and Iam sorry not to have been able to help her through her illness . and, My Heart is hurting for the loss of a Very Special Lady !

  2. My friend is gone. So many memories going all the way back to high school. Truly lifelong friends. She brought joy to many lives. I will miss her.

  3. Glad I got to know and spend time with “good” Judy (as she was known to us in New Martinsville) over the years. She was such a fun person. So glad she was able to spend the last year + with Jim and family.

  4. Sorry for the loss. My deepest condolences. Judy and I share the same birthday and our mothers shared the same hospital room at birth. Also, we were neighbors. I have fond memories of visits to their house. Blessings. Don Miller

  5. Judy and I became friends because we liked to walk! We walked all over Marland Heights. Then, we attended Jeff Tech to study criminal justice and obtained Private Investigator License . Great memories. I am so sorry we lost touch when I moved out or state. What a wonderful woman, and I am deeply sorry for your loss.

  6. My deepest sympathies to the family of Judy ! I got to know this lovely lady because I was her Dental Hygienist for many years . She loved to help me improve my golf game by giving me pointers on how to master the game and my swing and she loved to talk about her son . She was so proud of the man he was and is today ! I’m sorry I missed the visitation as I would have loved to meet this lovely family she so adored and cherished ! May God be with you all at this time . I sure am going to miss her smile and her zest for life ! We can all learn and did learn so much from this beautiful soul . May her memory be eternal and May she rest in eternal peace . Amen

  7. I had the pleasure of caddying for Mrs. Garvey on many occasions at Williams while growing up in the 70’s. She was very competitive, very professional, and very nice. She tipped well too. What was most impressive is that she could beat 90% of the men golfers at Williams. I loved it. Rest in peace Mrs. Garvey.

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