Judy Prosser-Armstrong [1954 - 2006]

Individual, Prosser-Armstrong_Judy

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"Judy Ann Prosser-Armstrong May 13, 1954 - January 20, 2006 Judy Ann Prosser-Armstrong, a 26 year resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away at the age of 51 on Friday, January 20, at St. Mary's Hospital due to natural causes complicated by cystic fibrosis. Judy was born May 13, 1954 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to parents John Clarence Prosser and Dorothy Anna BANDY Bondy Prosser, and grew up east of there in the small farming community of Pine Bluffs. Early-on she developed a passion for reading, influencing her lifelong desire to learn. She was diagnosed at about age 12 with the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis. But she never let it define her, and seldom told others, who assumed she had something like a lingering bronchial condition. Judy showed courage, compassion, and determination in accomplishing a great many works despite how she felt, and her increasing health concerns and medical regimen. After graduating from Pine Bluffs High School in 1972, she attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Journalism and History. Continuing her education, she completed a Master of Arts degree in American Studies at the University of Wyoming. Years later she became a Certified Archivist and also obtained a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University in Kansas. After serving as an Assistant Public Information Officer at the Wyoming State Archives, followed by Director of the Saratoga Historical and Cultural Museum in Saratoga, WY, Grand Junction, CO became Judy's home in 1979 when she was hired by the Museum of Western Colorado as Registrar and later as also Curator of Archives. Through the ensuing 26 years at the Museum, Judy also served as Collections Manager, Librarian, and finally as Director of the Loyd Files Research Library. Judy had many responsibilities with many collections and delighted in working with research requests. She and her cadre of dedicated volunteers aided thousands of people, from people interested in local history and their family roots, to authors, politicians, and countless agencies and organizations. She also took great pride in setting up and helping the Museum maintain status as a Regional Repository for artifacts from BLM lands in Western Colorado. Judy served on many professional museum, archival, oral history, genealogical, historic preservation, and other boards, and served as an officer or member in over 15 organizations. She had spent many nights, evenings, and weekends of her own time putting together many grants and seeing them through to completion. She, with talented others, set up and maintained a great number of exhibits, videos, publications, historical walking tours, presentations, programs, and history- related web sites, and promoted collection of oral histories dealing with local and regional history. Judy received many honors for this work, including a 2004 Woman of the Year through the Creative Visions Express Network of the American Business Women's Association, Lifetime Membership in the Mesa County Historical Society, Mesa County Employee of the Month, Phi Alpha Theta journalism honorary, and an Americal Studies scholarship. Just prior to her death, she was accepted into Who's Who of American Women, 2006-07. She was ever interested in her family roots and helping others find records on theirs. Judy helped lead many Museum van trips to Salt Lake City to spend days on genealogy research. In 2003, Judy was able to establish her own family ties to the Revolutionary War, and thus happily joined the DAR. Judy leaves behind her devoted and loving husband, Harley Armstrong, as well as three wonderful sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathie and Sam Trujillo of Littleton, Colorado; Mary Ellen and Ed Trollinger of Stevensville, Michigan; and Carol and Bert Macy of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Nieces and nephews include: Sam Trujillo, Jr., Candi Erickson, Debbie Trollinger, Rebecca Roller, Chris Macy, and Nicole Macy."

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