Funeral services for Judy Day will be Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Victory Life Church. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-8 PM at Heartland Funeral Home Early, Texas.
Judy’s fight of faith to continue her life here on earth came to an end Friday, August 8, 2014 at Sharp Memorial Hospital of San Diego, California. She fought valiantly to live her life with the purpose of serving as a living testimony to the reality of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and what He brings to anyone who believes in Him.
Judy Annette Shell was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on January 13, 1953 to James and Margaret Shell. During her upbringing, she and her family lived in Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. She moved to Texas to attend Howard Payne College, completing her degree at Texas Women’s University and later completing her Master of Psychology degree at Tarleton State University. While at Howard Payne, she met her husband of 40 years, Gary Wayne Day, whom she married May 9, 1974 in Fleming Chapel on Howard Payne campus. Judy and Gary moved to several communities in pursuit of fulfilling God’s call to ministry on their lives.
Above all else in her life was her relationship with God. She was a loyal, true, faithful and supporting wife. Her love for her family, and commitment to raise her three children in the love and admonition of the Lord, was of utmost importance. She was a gifted servant. She loved hosting people in her home for a simple but fantastic home-cooked meal. Judy spent 30 years serving people through her career in education. She taught math at Kermit, Santa Anna, Lamesa and Comanche, Texas. She also served as school counselor at May ISD and Early ISD. Her work with children also included helping with VBS, teaching Sunday school, and assisting with children’s church, to name a few.
Judy was a strong woman with a depth of faith that enabled her to live her daily life in a supernatural way. One of her biggest “bragging rights” was being Grammy to her nine grandchildren that she cherished. Her grandchildren not only lost their Grammy, they lost one of their “number one” prayer warriors.
Judy enjoyed sewing, planting flowers in the yard, and cooking for her family. One of her spiritual gifts was servitude and she delighted in serving children, helping others, as well as investing in the lives of the women and families around her.
Judy is survived by her husband, Gary Day. Her son, Jerry Day and wife Judy; daughter Jenni Bleth and husband Richard; son Jacob Day and wife Kassie. Her father James Shell; sister Cherie Montgomery and husband Rick; sister-in-law Gail Hankins. Her grandchildren Madison, Jaci, Benjamin, and Aiden Bleth; Lakyn, Meryn, and Niles Day; Martin and Samuel Day, as well as, a multitude of nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Shell and brother, James.
Memorials may be made to Victory Life School Scholarship Fund or the Early High School Pay It Forward Program.
