Judith Dianne Miers

Judith Dianne "Judy" Miers (née Sawyer), 85, a remarkable woman and beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully and surrounded by love and family at her Castle Pines, CO home on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Judy was born September 21, 1941, to Florence P. "Scottie" (née Hockey) and Arthur J. Sawyer in Watertown, NY, the first of five Sawyer siblings to be raised in Rochester, NY. Judy was a gifted student, graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1959 and Rochester General Hospital School of Nursing in 1962 (RN), and completing a master's degree in nursing at the University of Buffalo. She applied her academic successes in a rewarding career as a nurse — first as an accomplished operating room nurse and later as Director of the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing through Rochester General Hospital. Countless lives directly benefited from her attentive care across her years of nursing.

Judy also deeply valued family — a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and great-aunt, she will be remembered for her bright smile, Thanksgiving dinners, and genuine interest in the lives of all she loved.

Throughout her life, Judy took interest in a wide variety of pastimes - including home décor and design, embroidery and needlework, sewing, sailing, travel, cooking, fine food, wine and music, laughter, and animals, including golden retrievers, and especially Bengal cats - known for their distinctive leopard-like markings. In her work as a breeder, her cattery Aspen Gold Bengals, twice won TICA Supreme Grand Campion recognition. Judy had a discerning eye and a golden touch - adding value and beauty to all she did. In 1991, Judy was fortunate to find a great love in her husband of 30 years, James S. "Jim" Miers. After a courtship of skiing and sailing, they married in his hometown of Norwich, NY, before moving West for a new life in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. 

She is survived by her husband, James S. "Jim" Miers; children Randi A. (Jay) Hofmann, Scott D. E. (Sam) Alhard, Mark D. Alhart, Janée J. Alhart; cherished grandchildren, Connor S.D. (Lauren) Alhart, Blake L. Alhart, Hollin J. (Cheyenne) Alhart, Natalie G. Hofmann, Hope E. Alhart and Jenna R. Hofmann; adored great-grandchildren Wes W.S. Alhart and Harriett J. "Hattie" Alhart (born on Judy's 85th birthday); sisters, Suzanne L. Sawyer-Ratliff, and Kimberly J. "Kiki" (Robert) Hutchins; and a loving army of nieces and nephews; Miers children, Stephen M. (Krista) Miers, Douglas J. Miers, and Kathleen P. (Andy) Swims; Miers grandchildren, Kaitlyn Swims, Makenna G. Miers, John Swims, Adeline C. Miers, William J. Swims. Judy is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom J. Sawyer.