Judith Englehart Obituary

Judith E. "Judy" Kotzman Englehart was born on November 6, 1941, in Gallup, New Mexico, to Frank and Dixie Kotzman. She passed away on January 19, 2026.

Judy had a rich and fulfilling career spanning several decades. As a young woman, she worked at the historic La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, where she delighted in meeting State Legislators and their staff. In 1966, she moved to Cortez, Colorado, where she began her work in education as a teacher's assistant at Beech Street Kindergarten and later at Kemper Elementary School. Her passion for storytelling led her to journalism, where she wrote the popular "Party Line" column for the Cortez Sentinel before becoming a full-time reporter. During her journalism career, she had the privilege of interviewing notable figures including country music legend George Strait and Walmart founder Sam Walton, and she was actively involved with the local Civitans chapter. She later served as Editor of the Dolores Star before relocating to the Phoenix, Arizona area to enjoy her retirement years.

Judy is survived by her children Tim Scarafiotti, Lori Scarafiotti and her husband Stu Robertson, and Rebecca "Becky" Corder-Clark and her husband Byron Grice. She is also survived by her grandchildren Justin Hudder, Chase Hudder, Serena Diaz, Morgan Scarafiotti, and Cameron Clark; her great-grandchildren Chayne and Canaan Hudder; as well as her half-brothers Jim and Ray Marable. She was preceded in death by her daughter Billie Jo Corder in 2008 and her husband Chuck Englehart in 2023.