Judith Anne Kozee

Mrs. Judith Anne Kozee (Judy) Obituary

Daphne, Alabama - Judith Anne Kozee (née Taylor), 75, passed away peacefully at her home in Daphne, Alabama, on Jan. 4, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Judy was born on Dec. 20, 1950, in Mulberry Hollow (Robson), West Virginia, to Thomas Leland Taylor and Mary Helen Jack. She grew up in Fayette County and attended Collins High School in Oak Hill where she made many lifelong friends. When she was 16, Judy met the love of her life, Charles Robert Kozee, at a teen dance club in Page, West Virginia. In October 1969, she married Charles in Honolulu while he was on leave from serving in the Vietnam War. After spending a few years at Camp Lejeune during the remainder of his service in the Marines Corps, the Kozees settled in Canton, Ohio, in 1972 where they bought a home and raised their family. Following the death of her sister-in-law by a drunk driver, Judy devoted many years of her professional life to serving as the secretary and chairwoman for the Northeast Ohio chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). She lobbied the Ohio State Legislature and played a pivotal role in the passage of legislation that significantly strengthened penalties for driving under the influence. Later, Judy worked as a bank teller and loan officer at St. Joseph's Federal Credit Union, where she was beloved by her co-workers and customers alike. After her children graduated from school, she and Charles retired to coastal Alabama in 2009. She took great delight in attending Mardi Gras balls and parades, going to the beach and frequently hosting family and friends.Judy was a highly compassionate "people person" with a fondness for hours-long, deep conversations. Regarded by many as a true friend, she had a multitude of friendships that lasted more than 50 years. She had a gift for making others feel seen, heard, cared for and genuinely loved. An avid reader, she was rarely without a book, frequently returning from the local library with towering stacks. Due to her love of books, she possessed a remarkable vocabulary and amazed her children and grandchildren with her knowledge of even the most obscure words. She found genealogical research thrilling, spending countless hours researching family records; she took great pride in being a descendent of Ulster Scots and original Jamestown settlers. She loved to travel, visiting Germany several times and embarking on dozens of cruises with her husband and siblings over the years. Later in life, she developed a fondness for slot machines and always looked forward to her next visit to the casino.Judy was a lifelong animal lover, rescuing and unapologetically spoiling many cats and dogs over the years. Her most recent rescue, a cat named "Patches," showed up on her porch shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer; Judy called Patches her "gift from God" and let Patches ride around the house in a basket on her walker. Still, if asked, she would tell you that her favorite role of all was being a grandmother. She derived enormous joy from her grandchildren, delighting in and encouraging each of their unique personalities.Judy was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings, James "Jimmy" Taylor, Kermit "Howard" Taylor, Margaret Foster, Donald Taylor, Lacy "Sonny" Taylor, and Mary "Cathy" Garrett.Survivors include her husband of more than 55 years, Charles Kozee of Daphne, Alabama; two children, Troy (Hannah) Kozee of Fairlawn, Ohio and Holly Kozee (Matthew Moon) of Fairhope, Alabama; six beloved grandchildren, Elijah, Ella, and Esme Moon of Fairhope, and John, Natalie, and Isaac Kozee of Fairlawn; one brother, Burnett "Tommy" Taylor of New Whiteland, Indiana; two sisters, Delores "Jewel" Dodson of Indianapolis, Indiana and Gloria "Fran" Kuykendall of Henryville, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.A celebration honoring Judy will be held April 18, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn, Ohio. Memorial donations may be made to the New River Animal Rescue (201 Maple Ave., Oak Hill, WV 25901).To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Judith, please visit our floral store.