Memorial
Judy McClain 81, passed away on April 24, 2022, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Judy was born April 17, 1941, in Waterloo Iowa to Richard and Helen (Peterson) Hayes. The second of seven children, she graduated from Our Lady of Victory Academy in 1959. She married her high school sweetheart Kent McClain on June 3rd, 1961, and had two daughters Lynn (McClain) Kepp and Laura McClain. Judy was a loving mother, a Girl Scout Troup leader, and encouraged her daughters to enjoy impactful lives. With her support, they both achieved advanced college degrees and successful careers.
Judy and her family moved every few years and lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Terre Haute, Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, Pitman, New Jersey, and Granada Hills, California. Judy spent the last 30 years of her life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
She loved people and made lifelong friends during the many moves across the country. In 1977 the family moved to Los Angeles where she became a Teacher’s Aide in an elementary school. After Kent passed away in 1989, Judy moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa to be closer to her siblings. She continued working in schools as the attendance secretary at Metro High School for ten years. Judy was very active in the Beginning Experience Weekend program, All Saints Church Choir, country line dancing, and Zumba. She enjoyed traveling, planning family gatherings, playing games, going on walks, and singing. Judy was known to frequently bring song sheets to family gatherings for sing-alongs.
She loved being a grandmother to her grandchildren Haley Kepp, Luke Prelgovisk, Connor Kepp, and Logan Prelgovisk. She visited them regularly in California including a 20-year tradition of spending a week every summer at Lake Tahoe. She was always ready for an adventure and took them on Elder Hostel trips to Bermuda, the Grand Canyon, and Utah. The grandchildren loved visiting Iowa and have fond memories of time with their extended family going to Lost Island Waterpark, hiking at Backbone, and of course the Daily trip to Dairy Queen.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Helen (Peterson) Hayes, husband Kent McClain, brother Steve Hayes, and her brother-in-law Tom McCarthy.
She is survived by her siblings Pat McCarthy, Tom (Carol) Hayes, Dennis (Nancy) Hayes, Rosemary Hayes, and Becky (Jim Ickes) Hayes, sister-in-law Jane (Steve) Hayes, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
A visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 3rd from 4-7 pm. On Wednesday, May 4th there will be a visitation at 9 am and a funeral mass at 10 am at All Saints Church, Cedar Rapids. The inurnment will be Thursday, May 5th at 10 am at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Waterloo.