Judith Anne Britton

The sun rose on Judith Anne Britton’s journey on February 16, 1953, in Moses Lake, Washington. Born into a military family, her father Willard Revere Britton would spend 29 years in the service taking his family to stations in Iowa, Ohio, France, and Colorado, while finally retiring to Colorado Springs. Judy and her 2 sisters, Nita Jean and Mary Catherine, attended school in Colorado Springs where Judy was active in student government, dance, and ballet and worked her first job at Dunkin Donuts. Judy would fondly recount how her mother, Ethel Louise, would spend hours at the sewing machine making all her clothes. She graduated from Mitchell High School with the Class of 1971 and went on to major in dance at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After a year of college, her next adventure took her to the burlesque stage as Cimarron, a featured act in dancing, eating fire, and performing with tarantulas. In 1976, she had her one and only child, Cheyenne Elizabeth. Judy would continue to grace the stage, manage entertainment venues, and choreograph the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders until 1983 when she met her future husband, Douglas Dean Hanshaw, while he was working as a bouncer at the Candlelight Inn. Using her vast entertainment expertise, Judy would then connect and co-manage the Savage Dancers with her best friend, Old Bird. The Savage Dancers traveled the United States and finally settled in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1990. Judy and Doug were married on October 30, 1990. After settling in Las Vegas, Judy worked at 7-11, Sizzler, and Henderson Cold Storage before going back to her roots in the entertainment industry as a House Mom at Little Darlings, Showgirls, and Hustlers. As a House Mom, Judy took care of the dancers in her dressing room providing them support, a listening ear, and a bonus Mom when they needed one. Her daughter, Cheyenne married Richard James Foster, Jr. in 2008 and has three children, Skyler, Kalani, and Rylan (RJ), and two bonus daughters, Alina (Tete) and Alexis. Whenever asked, Judy would state that the greatest joy in her life was family. She spent the final years of her life watching her grandchildren grow up and accomplish many milestones towards their dreams. She and her husband Doug shared 33 years of marriage and 40 years of love before the sunset on her journey on October 19, 2023. Judy passed peacefully at home with Doug holding one hand and Cheyenne holding the other.

Friends and family are invited to join in her purple, blue, and Eeyore-themed Celebration of Life at Palm Mortuary on November 6th, 2023, from 2-5pm.

Doug and Cheyenne would like to extend their love and gratitude to the many members of the family. To Judy’s Colorado dance family, Debra. Her Savage family, Barbie, Savvy, Gypsy, Amnesty, Senayda, and her many nieces and nephews. Her Las Vegas dance family, Stacy, Colton, Lisa, Lorrie, Susan, and her numerous other beloved bonus sons and daughters. Her nieces Kathy and Misty, and her nephews Jim and Andy, as well as her great nieces and nephews and Iowa cousins. And finally, to the Hanshaw family for their love and support over the past 40 years.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Britton family.