MATTAWA - Judith Kay (Glessner) Esser, 68, of Mattawa, who served 23 years as mayor, was laid to rest on Thursday, April 17, in the Mansfield Cemetery in her home town of Mansfield.

She died on Thursday, April 10, at home surrounded by her family and friends.

Born November 10, 1945 in Omak to Allan and Mildred Glessner, Judy was the youngest of three children. She was raised on a 900-acre wheat ranch near Mansfield.

Judy graduated from Mansfield High School in 1963. From 1963-66 she attended Central Washington State College, where she met Dennis Esser. They were married on March 19, 1966.

After graduation, Judy and Dennis moved to Wenatchee where Dennis taught and coached football at Wenatchee High School and Judy sold real estate. They had two daughters, Debbie and Amy.

Dennis died in an accident on December 6, 1975. Judy and her two young daughters moved to Ellensburg, where she worked for Comprehensive Mental Health.

In 1977 Judy 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 ran for City Council and was elected in 1980. She was then elected as the Mayor of Mattawa in 1991.

"Judy worked tirelessly for 34 years for the City of Mattawa," Bruce said.

Through her guidance, the community established its own police department. Under her leadership, Mattawa received funding in 1998 from Governor Gary Locke to build the Esperanza Farmworker Housing project and a wastewater treatment plant.

Judy worked as a real estate agent, selling farms, orchards, vineyards and commercial real estate all over Washington State.

"She loved her community, the people who worked for her and with her and especially her clients," Bruce said.