JUDY SMITH OBITUARY
Aug 20,1953 – June 20, 2022
Judy Faye (Casey) Smith passed away at 11:48 p.m. on June 20, 2022, having created and maintained several hundred years worth of accomplishments – and relationships – in her 68 years of life.Judy was always in motion from a young age, taking care of others and getting involved in whatever activities drew her interest. She was born to Louise and J.B. Casey Sr. on Aug. 20, 1953, in Monterey, California. When she was 5, her family moved to Turlock, California, where she graduated from Turlock High School in 1971. She moved to the foothills a few years later, where she met Allan Smith in 1979 as part of the square dancing club, the Twain Harte Twirlers. Judy’s colorful costumes were the beginning of lifelong relationships with crafting, sewing, and the love of her life, Allan, who she married on Nov. 7,1980.
Among Judy’s most cherished friends are her Pfaffe Girls sewing group, with whom she held regular get-togethers. She was the self-appointed leader, telling her girls what to do even when they already knew. She was a great organizer, and couldn’t help but show people anything that was “pretty neat” or “spiffy.” She always had the latest sewing (or kitchen) gadget, usually buying three or four extras so she could give them away to whomever was on her mind among her family or friends.
Judy’s husband, Allan, was her favorite traveling companion, and she loved to go on RV trips. Judy and Allan joined the Draggin’ Wagons in 2000, where they built life-long friendships that combined Judy’s love of travel, sewing, and organizing large groups of people where she could plan meals, share cool new ideas or tools, or drop some helpful tips, like making sure everyone had everything packed (with extras). Judy’s favorite trip was to Alaska in 2012.
Though Judy was always planning activities and gatherings with friends, her largest social network was her family, having 17 aunts and uncles, plus seven siblings gave Judy an endless number of relatives complete with cousins, nieces, and nephews for whom she would organize and plan reunions and parties year-round.
Judy’s favorite and most beloved role was that of grandmother; a role she was always excited to talk about with her family. Judy was always interested in what her grandkids were doing, planning activities for them and making sure her home had games and enough food when the grandkids would visit.
If you knew Judy, you saw her constantly caring for others with enthusiasm and optimism, always moving and working in service of others. She was such a positive force for good, but she faced many hardships in her life that she chalked up to the “Good Lord willin’,” including a cancer diagnosis in 2012. Judy subsequently survived cancer after a tough battle. She was very active in the Relay for Life and was the Survivor in the Year in 2017, due in no small part to the enthusiasm in which she shared luminary design ideas. Judy also experienced many losses in her life of loved ones including both of her parents and three beloved brothers who preceded her in death; Joe Casey, Jerry Lee Casey, and John Casey. Throughout those losses, Judy was a source of strength to her family and friends, providing meals, handmade gifts, and filling in the gaps where she saw a need.
Judy planned and organized her own memorial service, which she would expect you to attend if you knew her. Please join us in celebrating the joyful life of Judy on Saturday, July 9. The memorial includes a 10 a.m. graveside service at Mountain Shadow Cemetery, Lyons-Bald Mountain Rd, Sonora, followed by a lunch in her honor at noon in the Cultural Hall at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
