Daughter of Merton Taylor Latshaw and Patricia Mary Riley Rengel

• Married Donald Lee Toft, 8 August 1959, St. Louis, Missouri (divorced)
• Married James Joseph John Nieder, 4 June 1966 (divorced)
• Married James Edward Huff, 3 July 1990, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, Florida (divorced)

Obituary: Pilot Knob, Iron, Missouri, United States - Judith Patricia Huff, lovingly known as "Judie", passed away on November 28, 2025, at Parkland Medical Center. Born on October 16, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she was the daughter of the late Merton and Patricia (Riley) Latshaw.

Judie is survived by her daughter, Lisa Lampe of Pilot Knob, Missouri, and her brother, Wylie (Wally) Bunker of Culpeper, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her son, Donald Lee Toft, Jr.

Throughout her career, Judie worked as an Administrative Assistant for several manufacturing companies. She was a proud member of the Iron County Historical Society, where she nurtured her love of history and genealogy. Judie was also a talented crocheter, creating beautiful pieces with skill and care. She found joy in cooking and was known for preparing delicious meals. She cherished the companionship of her friend/caregiver, Teresia Dement Chamberlain.

No formal services are planned at this time. Memorials may be made in Judie's honor to the Iron County Historical Society.

Iron County Historical Society - Arcadia, Missouri, 3 December 2025 - This Wednesday's column is not about a landmark, nor a figure from Iron County's past. Instead, I ask for your indulgence as I devote this week's column to remembering Judith Patricia "Judie" [Latshaw] Huff, who left us suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, November 28, 2025. For those who did not know her, Judie served as vice president of the Historical Society—but she was, in truth, so much more than a title.

From the moment Judie moved to the Valley and joined the Historical Society, everything began to change. Anyone who has worked within a volunteer organization knows there are two kinds of people at opposite ends of what I call the "spectrum of getting things done." At one end are those brimming with wonderful ideas yet waiting for others to carry them out. At the other end are those equally full of ideas, but who also step forward to lead, drawing others into the work and making things happen. Judie was unmistakably one of the latter.

Judie was the kind of volunteer that Museum Director Wilma Cofer could always rely on to keep the museum open. When emergencies prevented others from covering their shifts, it was often Judie who stepped in without hesitation. After we shifted to winter hours, she pulled me aside and said that if anyone wished to visit on a day we were normally closed, I should let her know—she would gladly meet them and open the museum. That was simply who Judie was.

Judie helped to lighten my workload in multiple ways and was always looking to do more. She stepped in to manage the online membership chair duties, helped with the preparation and mailing of our quarterly newsletter, and graciously became my personal proofreader for everything I wrote—whether it was the newsletter, the website, or even my Facebook posts for the historical society.

When Judie noticed a task that needed attention, she didn't wait—she stepped in and got it done. And when the work called for collaboration, she knew how to bring others along with her. She spearheaded the School Records Project, led the creation of the Book Indexes tab on our website, and had recently begun the ambitious effort to scan more than 10,000 negatives from the Hardy Collection.

I must admit, there were times it felt as though I was working for Judie—but always in the best possible way, because her guidance was strengthening the historical society. I deeply valued her insight, her ideas, and her sound judgment. Her commitment was remarkable; she even sent me a few corrections to our website work on Thanksgiving morning. I'm grateful I was able to finish them and return the updates to her that very day.

Judie was a devoted family historian and genealogist, always ready to share her knowledge with anyone who sought her help. Through her work as a Find-a-Grave contributor, she created more than 21,000 memorials and enriched them with over 56,000 photographs. Her efforts reunited families, restored connections across generations, and even helped people discover relatives they never knew they had.

Even in her unexpected passing, Judie is leaving us with lessons to remember. First, she reminds us how fragile and fleeting life truly is. In the midst of our grief, we are also left with the lesson to cherish the time we have, to express our gratitude while we can, and to carry forward with the kindness and dedication that she embodied. Judie's absence beckons us to live with greater purpose and, finally, to honor her memory by investing more deeply in the people and causes that matter most.

Rest in peace my friend.

Judith Patricia "Judie" [Latshaw] Huff 16 October 1940 – 28 November 2025