Judy McCann

Judy Adele McCann, 77, of Billings, Montana, passed away on January 15th.  She was born on February 29th in 1948 to Dorothy and Ivan “Pete” Lee and spent the majority of her youth in Billings and Bozeman. 

Following graduation from high school, Judy met and married Gerald Stephen “Jerry” McCann in Billings, Montana, on June 17, 1967. Judy and Jerry made their home in Billings and became parents to three daughters and “Nanny” and “Grumpy” to seven grandchildren. Judy worked as a unit coordinator at the Billings Clinic Psychiatric Center for over 45 years, where she lovingly touched the lives of many until her retirement in 2019. 

Judy was a kind and caring person—donating a kidney to Jerry in his time of need and being a rock for her family and friends. She enjoyed growing indoor plants and outdoor gardening, constantly amazing her family, friends, and neighbors with her green thumb. She loved to travel—her furthest adventure taking her to Rome, Italy. Judy also loved having treats handy for her grand-dogs and neighbors’ dogs, and she thoroughly enjoyed dog-walking and dog-sitting. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and one of her favorite pastimes was buying special gifts and writing clever messages in funny cards for her grandchildren. Her gift-wrapping creativity and skills were unmatched. 

Judy is loved deeply by her children and grandchildren and will be missed.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, and her parents, Dorothy and Pete. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Dawn and Mick Cope of Olympia, Washington; Nicole and Kevin Benge of Billings, Montana; and Shalyn and Aaron Lacey of Piedmont, Oklahoma. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren, Morgan Cope, Brooklyn Cope, Jared Benge, Seth Benge, Ryan Lacey Zarkeshan, Reagan Lacey, Jett Lacey, and her great-grandchild, Zaidi Zarkeshan. Judy is also survived by her sisters Linda Forney of Bremerton, Washington, Vivi Portnell of Belgrade, Montana, and her brother Pete Lee of Wasilla, Alaska.

Judy’s daughters would like to thank the many caring staff members at TenderNest and RiverStone Hospice who cared for their mother with such kindness and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Judy’s honor to Riverstone Health Foundation in Billings. A service is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th, at 10 AM at Dahl Funeral Chapel.