Judith Ann Knox, 92, of Glendale California, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Her three children survive her: Michael Dean Knox, Karen Ann Harris, and Laura Sue Knox, as well as her grandchildren Jessica Lynne Koch, Matthew Dean Knox, Daniel Aaron Knox, and her great-granddaughter Genevieve Lynn Koch.

 

‘Judy’ was born in Chicago, IL in 1930, an only child, to Bradford Stetson, a salesman, and Maxine Wilcox Stetson, a stage actress in repertoire theater. Judy grew up in Evanston, IL, and graduated from Evanston High School. Judy studied at Monmouth College, IL, where she performed with the “Sweet Adeline” vocal group.

 

In 1950, Judy married her late husband Marion ‘Dean’ Knox, an athlete and Navy veteran, in Chicago, IL. The couple adopted their son Michael in 1961 and their daughter Karen in 1963. The family moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1964, where Judy gave birth to her daughter Laura. Judy and Dean raised their kids in the then-fledgling suburb of North Hollywood. Holding down a series of jobs to help the family, Judy eventually went to work as a credit manager for the Hollywood Reporter.  

 

Possessing an easy laugh and a lively sense of humor, Judy was a fan of classic movie musicals and standards from the American songbook. Her hobbies included card games, gardening, and knitting. She also participated in many Halloween costume contests, usually taking the winning trophy as a swashbuckling female pirate.

 

Judy had a particular fondness for Mammoth, CA, and spent her retirement years in her cherished mountain home in Big Bear, CA. A lifetime lover of animals, Judy was the ‘mom’ of many beloved pets, and at age 89 could still be found hand-feeding giraffes at the LA zoo.