Judith Kay Esser

Judith Kay (Glessner) Esser, 68, of Mattawa, WA, passed away on April 10, 2014, at home, surrounded by her family and friends. Born November 10, 1945, in Omak to Allan and Mildred Glessner, she was the youngest of three children. Judy was raised on a 900 acre wheat ranch in Mansfield, WA. In 1963, she graduated from Mansfield High School. She attended Central Washington State College from 1963 to 1966, where she met Dennis Esser. They were married on March 19, 1966. After graduation, Judy and Dennis moved to Wenatchee, WA, where Dennis taught and coached football at Wenatchee High School and Judy sold Real Estate. They had two daughters, Debbie and Amy. Dennis passed away in an accident on December 6, 1975. In 1977, she met and fell in love with Bruce Eskildsen. They started their own real estate business, Mattawa Realty, and Judy moved her small family to Mattawa in the summer of 1980. Soon after settling in Mattawa, Judy was elected to Mattawa City Council in 1980, and then elected as the Mayor of Mattawa in 1991. Judy worked tirelessly for 34 years, of which 23 were as Mayor, for the City of Mattawa. Through her guidance, the small farming community in rural Grant County established their own police department to maintain safety and security, received funding in 1998 from Governor Gary Locke to build the Esperanza Farmworker Housing project and a Wastewater Treatment Plant for the city of Mattawa. Judy loved her community, the people who worked for her and with her, and especially her clients. She has been featured in various newspapers nationally such as the LA Times and most recently the Boston Globe. Judy is survived by her husband, Bruce Eskildsen; brother, Wes (Charlotte) Glessner; two daughters, Debbie (Rick) Perleberg of Reardan and Amy (Rick) Martinez of Selah; two step-sons, Hans and Jack Eskildsen; and grandchildren, Ashley, Amber, Bailee and Zane Perleberg, and Mason and Alyssa Martinez. Judy was preceded in death by husband, Dennis Esser; her parents, Allan and Mildred Glessner; and brother, Albert Glessner. Her Funeral Service will be held Thursday, April 17, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Mansfield Community Church, followed by Interment at the Mansfield Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home in Wenatchee, or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society under her name. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home.

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Judith Kay Esser

November 10, 1945 - April 10, 2014