Judith Alice Morrison Ahrens

Judy met Bill, her husband of 51 years, when both were nursing students, although they attended different schools. Six weeks after their marriage he reported for duty as a Navy Medical Department Officer. They decided to make the Navy a career, and Judy worked as a Registered Nurse at all of Bill’s duty stations in the U.S. and in Naples, Italy. She specialized in Labor and Delivery nursing. After Bill’s Navy retirement she continued in nursing in Jacksonville; first in Labor and Delivery at Baptist Medical Center Downtown and later in geriatric practice at River Garden Hebrew Home and Taylor Manor.

Although Judy received accolades as a nurse, her highest honors, in her eyes, were those she received as a wife and mother; even throughout years of chronic illness. As a faithful Christian, she knew who, and Whose, she was. She was predeceased by her parents, Vincent and Maryann (Mayr) Morrison. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children Allison Walker (Vance) of Jacksonville, Melissa Von Dolteren (Tony) of St. Augustine, and Rebecca Fitch (Rob) of Woodstock, GA, her grandchildren Will and Ryan Walker and Alexis and Ashley Fitch, her brother Jerry Morrison (Diane) of Chandler, AZ, and Chowder, the last in her line of faithful canine companions. From among her many health care providers the family wishes to offer special recognition to Dr. Safeer Ashraf and the nursing staff of both the 4th Floor and the Intensive Care Unit at Baptist Medical Center South.

A Memorial Service will be at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3976 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 on Thursday, October 28 at 11:00 AM. In accordance with current congregation policy, masking will be required. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church or to Feeding Northeast Florida (1116 Edgewood Avenue North D/E, Jacksonville, FL 32254, or online at their web site).

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL (904) 288-0025.