Judith K. Steve

"Leverett - Judith K. Steve, 74, of Depot Road, died on Tuesday, October 30 at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst. Born in Gardner, MA, she was the daughter of the late George "Tommy" R. and Esther L. (Hardy) Knowles. Judith was a 1955 graduate of South Kingston, RI High School. She received her BS from the University of Rhode Island in Radiologic Technology. Although Judy was born in Gardner and her early years were spent in Phillipston she really grew up in "South County" Rhode Island. As a young girl she enjoyed many exploits in and around the farms, fields, and salt ponds of East Matunuck, Moonstone and Snug Harbor, making time to hone her love and skills of fishing, trapping, hunting or training her dogs and goats. Judith was an accomplished Sailor, Curve Bar Girl Scout, Sea Scout, Senior lifesaver, Ocean Lifeguard as well as a Water Safety Instructor. After working as a Radiologic Technologist at Roger Williams Hospital in Providence, she married Peter and moved to Leverett, where they created Cricket Hill Farm together. She worked both in and out of the home; primarily as a homemaker, but also a bookkeeper at Montgomery Rose, Fran's Welding and Shumway and Sons Tree and Landscaping. Perhaps her most important time was spent waiting for the school bus in the afternoon for her son and his friends, and working in the community. She participated in many organizations such as Friendly Circle, Eastern Star, Ladies Benevolent Society, Leverett Town Hall Committee, and as such, involved with many improvements to the Town Hall. She was as adept at and could as easily be found braiding a rug, as operating a crowbar; supporting a heifer project, or training a new horse at the farm; planting Christmas trees, to finding a wayward child with the aide of tracking dogs, teaching how to clean, dress and cook game or finding the right youth group leaders for her community. An avid Breeder of AKC English Springer Spaniels, Judy was involved in all facets of the breed; she strove tirelessly to maintain the core values and versatility of the breed in the show ring, field and gun, companionship, tracking and agility. She actively hunted game with her family, dogs and friends until 1971 when physical limitations kept her from walking miles in the fields to train a young dog by the side of an accomplished elder canine from her kennel. Judy and her husband Peter were founding members of the Franklin County Kennel Club which later became the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club. She was a member of and active in regional and national springer events both as an organizer, and participant, finishing many dogs to various Championships with representative Cricket Hill Springer bloodlines in kennels internationally. Judy and Peter were regulars at various auctions in and around New England, and were customarily found hauling boxes of eclectic goodies from various locale's, such as coopers, blacksmiths, shipwrights, wheelwrights, carriage makers and other early American tool trades. Judy and Peter both enjoyed oil painting for relaxation, and complemented each other's shortcomings when it came to a difficult brushstroke, or color selection to bring a subject to canvas. Judy had keen eyes for art composition, color and was often Peters muse in a difficult color blend when out and about with their easels in Western Mass, or on their weekly trips to the North Shore on a painting trip. Both were members of the Rockport Art Association, as well as the North Shore Art Association in Gloucester. Judy was a seasoned birder, and had many lifelist birds added in recent years of both native and migratory song and shore birds. She enjoyed attending birding trips, often going off on her own from the group to enjoy the observation in solitude. She was a very skilled, patient and keen observer, with excellent eyesight, and often pointed out unseen birds in thick cover to other "twitchers" who were impatient. She had fostered and nearly tamed a family of flying squirrels at her home which she enjoyed in the evening, but all other squirrels need not apply at peril of perforation. Judith was extremely proud of both her grandchildren, she encouraged them in all facets with a metered, cautious optimism, and had a way of conveying a sense of responsibility that may come with choices, decisions, and consequences whether altruistic, academic, or recreational. She instilled to both of them by example, the work ethic of a Swamp Yankee, along with their Mayflower roots. During an early summer afternoon at Cricket Hill, she spent a few hours "snap-shooting" with both grandchildren, then patiently coached on sight picture and respiratory pause for marksmanship, and was well pleased with the results. She is survived by many dear friends, a son, Gregory C. Steve and his wife Kathryn A. (Dihlmann) of Shutesbury. She also leaves a grandson Jacob C. Steve of Shutesbury and his girlfriend Leah Morton, of South Deerfield and granddaughter Kaitlyn J. Steve of Shutesbury. Judith was preceded in death by husband, Peter C. Steve in 2007. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5:00 PM - 8:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home, 10 Maple St., (Rte. 202). Family and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Service on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at East Leverett Cemetery, Cemetery Rd., E. Leverett. Memorial contributions may be made to either the englishspringerspanielfoundation.org, or the Center for Extended Care at Amherst Attn: Resident Council. "