Judy Harkness was born January 23, 1948 in Winner, SD to parents Nathan and Mary Ella (Couch) Hayford. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Alcester, SD on February 2, 2014 at the age of 66 years and 9 days. Judy grew up in the Sturgis area. At 16 she left home to be a caregiver for her aunt's children. She moved to Texas and worked in a nursing home until she moved back to the tri-state area. Judy has resided in Alcester for the last several years. Judy was a faithful member of Big Springs Baptist Church where she was active in many areas. She dearly loved children and cherished her time as an Awana and Sunday School teacher. She was preceded in death by her grandson, father, grandparents and many aunts and uncles. Her survivors are her husband Ron, Alcester; three children, Wayne Laird, Sioux Falls, Ray Laird, Alcester and Marshalltown, IA, and Mindy Laird, Marshalltown, IA; her mother Mary Hayford, Sturgis; two brothers, Ray Hayford, Houschton, GA and Dale Hayford, Spearfish; three sisters, Janice Casteel, Sturgis, Marilyn Coolley, Spearfish, and Debbie Hayford, Hiram, GA; 5 step-children, 7 grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Big Springs Baptist Church, rural Alcester, SD, with burial to follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.