Judith Ann Scales, 67, of Joplin, formerly of Pittsburg, died Tuesday at her home in Joplin.
She was born March 3, 1941, in Cherokee, the daughter of Glen W. and Julia Faye McColm Scales. She was a May 1959 graduate of CCHS in Cherokee, and September 1959 graduate of Mt. Carmel School of Nursing, She received her Registered Nurse degree in September 1962.
She moved to Gallup, N.M., in 1962, where she worked at P.H.S. Indian Hospital and later for McKinley General Hospital in Gallup. She returned to Pittsburg in 1972 as a trainer with the new Intensive Care Unit at Mt. Carmel Medical Center. She later served head nurse on Four Medical. In 1975, she became the nurse for Dr. Richard Gellender, before assuming the position of Nursing Consultant with Medicalodges Inc. covering Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Nebraska. In 1985, she formed J.S. Consulting, working with Long Term Care Homes doing State and Federal Certification surveys and teaching continuing education courses for staff in 26 states. She also taught Nurse Aid and Medication Aid Certification courses through Ft. Scott Community College and Labette Community College for more than 20 years. She devoted the last 27 years of her nursing career to Long Term Care Certified Geriatric Nursing, her final position with Spring River Christian Village in Joplin as a staff nurse.
Survivors include: Three brothers, Maurice Scales of Girard, Melvin Scales of Pittsburg, and Don Scales of Girard; three nieces, Marcia Ellinor of Virginia Beach, Va., Donna Platt of Butler, Mo., and Michele Nowell of Canadian, Okla.; five nephews, Danny Scales of Cherokee, Ray Scales of McCune, Dennis Scales of Pittsburg, Glen Scales of Cedar Park, Texas, and Mark Scales of Pittsburg; 13 great-nieces; six great-nephews; one great-great-niece; and three great-great-nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg with the Rev. Thomas Stroot as celebrant. The parish Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Brenner Mortuary, where the family will receive friends following the rosary until 8 p.m. Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at the Brenner Mortuary. Burial will be in the Monmouth Cemetery. Memorials may be given to "Aunt Jude's" Home for Abused Children Memorial Fund or Judith Scales Memorial Charity Fund and may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may sign the register book and leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.