July 19, 1947 - January 2, 2014
LIVE WITH PURPOSE, CONNECT WITH YOUR PASSION & MAKE A DIFFERENCE
~ Love Judie ~
Judith Lynn Grangaard passed away January 2, 2014, surrounded by her family. An Arizona resident for
64 years, she was born in Dallas, TX on July 19, 1947 to Dr. Ray and Ruth Fife. With four sisters and
three brothers, Judie grew up in a very loving and vibrant household. She met the love of her life,
David Grangaard, while attending Camelback High School and it was truly a storybook romance.
The homecoming queen and star athlete would wed, have three children, and celebrate 45 years of
marriage, which they did on December 20, 2013. Judie and Dave celebrated their love and their lives
to the fullest by traveling together and spending time with family and friends as often as possible. A
caring and compassionate person, she was also a member of Delta Gamma sorority, Jr. League of Phoenix and Visiting Nurse Auxillary. She loved the ocean waves in La Jolla.
She loved playing games with her grandchildren.
She loved line-dancing, Zumba, and rolling out her yoga mat. She loved a good book and a warm bath.
She loved a chilled glass of wine and the smell of Christmas. Judie embraced everything about life and
truly lived each day to the fullest and always in the moment. A beautiful woman in every way, she
didn’t say goodbye without giving her family some advice about life, which was to: Connect with your
passion. Live with purpose. Make a difference. She is survived by her husband David, son Todd (Heather)
Grangaard, daughter Melissa (Tony) Vitek, daughter Heidi (Mike) Malano. Brothers, David (Lily) Fife,
Dana (Virginia) Fife, Tom (Gigi) Fife. Sisters, Becky (Howard) King, Diane (Craig) Powell, Cindy (Doug)
Thomann, Heidi (Rick) Remakel. Grandchildren, Kaylee Grangaard (12), Tatum (5) & Wyatt (2) Vitek. A
service will be held on Saturday February 15, 2014 at 11:00am. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. 3641
N. 56th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Immediately following the service a Celebration of Judie's life will
be held at The Stone House Pavilion (Phoenix Zoo) located at 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.. Judie
passed peacefully at Ryan House Hospice of the Valley, where we'd like to make a lasting tribute in her memory
by encouraging donations to be sent there, in lieu of flowers. Please send in memory of Judie Grangaard
to Hospice of the Valley Ryan House at 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.
Judy was one of my students in my private art studio in Scottsdale. I was teaching women how to paint on china and we painted dolls etc. I looked for her now as I had lost track of her all these years. I wanted to thank her for coming and taking the classes I gave because I had two girls Rachel and Maresa and was struggling to survive financially as a single parent. The money from those classes helped me to buy food and survive. I was hoping we could have a reunion of the women that took those classes in the early 80's and am saddened that Judy is gone. I see she also went blonde and would approve that I made the plunge and went blonde too when the grey starting coming. We used to laugh and talk while painting and it was a special time for me in my life. If her children read this and would like to come for a visit they can find me by going to facebook and looking for Cinderella's Castle Scottsdale where my landline phone number is listed. I miss you Judy and I will see you in heaven one day. Sorry I missed you here. I wanted to see you again and have a just for old times sake paint in with all my girls.
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