Judy Seidel

Judy Irene {Sharp) Seidel, age 79 was found deceased in her home in Berkeley, California on December 23, 2025.

She was born on October 3, 1946 in Clay Center, Kansas, the oldest child of Ernest Sharp and Irene (Dunn) Sharp.

She grew up on a farm southwest of Riley. One of her favorite memories was going to the pasture in the afternoons to bring the cows in for milking. Judy enjoyed being a member of the Magic 4-H club where she had both animal and homemaking projects. She was a member of the Hillside EUB church where she was very active in the youth group, holding offices at the local, state, and national levels. She began playing piano for church while a young teenager.

She attended Bala Grade School and Riley County High School. In high school, she was very active in music, playing a variety of reed instruments and the piano. She also played the accordion, and with other family members entertained at events in the community.

After high school, Judy attended the EUB Westmar College in Iowa studying music. She met Robert Seidel and they married on December 28, 1966. After Robert's graduation in 1967, they moved to California so he could attend graduate school at Berkeley. They divorced three years later, and she never remarried, but chose to stay in California for most of her life. She held several jobs as administrative assistants and did piano accompaniment for an adult school program in Berkeley. Later she played piano with an orchestra in the San Francisco Bay area. Jazz was her favorite type of music. During these working years she returned to college at UC Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in music in 1974. In 1979, she was awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration, also from UC Berkley. For many years during the 1980's and 90's she worked for a financial firm in San Francisco. She bought a house in Berkeley in the early 1990's and stayed there until her death. After retirement she pursued art, first in photography and then in modern painting. Her paintings were shown and sold in galleries in the area.

Judy is survived by four siblings, Ivy (Lynn) Osborn of Dardenne Prairie, MO, Gerald (Susan) Sharp of Clay Center, KS, Mary Jo McFadden of Colorado Springs, CO, and Tim (Tammy) Sharp of Riley, KS. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law, Teresa Sharp, and brother-in-law, Robert McFadden.

Inurnment will be at a later date in the Riley Cemetery next to her parents. The Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.