Judith Lynn (Jenkins) Carlson

Judith Lynn Jenkins Carlson was born to Fred and Eva Jenkins on September 26, 1945 at home 1328 S. Maffitt St.,Decatur, Illinois.  Judy married Earl Morrow and had her first two children, Kelly Ellis and Tracy Gregory.  She later married Dennis Carlson where she gained four stepdaughters, Dawn Robinson, Sequin Sena, Denise Howard and Sonia Carlson and had her two youngest Jamie and Denny Carlson.  She was a pioneer for equality for women.  She owned and operated Zest E Burger from 1987 to 1996 and Judy’s Place from 1999 to 2017.  She believed in second chances for everyone and would never let anyone leave hungry.  She let us know that we could achieve anything we worked for.  Her children and grandchildren learned hard work from her and appreciate her good hard work ethic.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Betty Hawbaker, Bonnie Short and Patsy Thorton; her two brothers, Fred Jenkins and James Edward “Pug” and niece Kathy Tully.

She is also survived by two sisters, Ana Saville and Audrey Mitsdarffer of Illinois; her daughters, Kelly Ellis of Tempe, AZ, Tracy Gregory and husband Shane Gregory of Canyon and Jamie Carlson of Amarillo; her son, Dennis Carlson Jr. of Amarillo; her three granddaughters, Tory VanDamme, Chloe Ellis and Justin Carlson, her four grandsons, Noah Carlson, Josh Bright, Dennis Carlson III and Jude Reed.  She has three grand grandchildren, Kortni VanDamme and Konnor VanDamme and Nova Scott; two nephews, Michael Price and Casey Tully and was grandma to so many more.