Judy Ann Kelley's Obituary
Judy Kelley Obituary
A memorial ceremony honoring the life of Judy Ann Kelley will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Tulsa. A private interment will be held at Bixby Cemetery. Judy passed away Thursday, January 6, 2022 at her home in Bixby. She was 76.Born on August 1, 1945 in Fordland, Missouri, Judy was the daughter of Howard D. & Aleta G. Claxton. She and her older brother Eddie grew up in Springfield where they attended Taft Elementary. At 11 years of age, Judy accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at the First General Baptist Church. Judy would also meet the love of her life, Ron Kelley during this time. They began dating when she was 14 years old. Judy graduated from Central High School, participating in the band as a twirler. Following high school, Judy studied accounting at Southwest Missouri College where she was chosen to serve as the queen of her sorority, as well as the ROTC military ball queen. Ron and Judy, or Clancy, as Ron called her, were married September 11, 1965, at the First General Baptist Church where they attended. They celebrated 56 years of marriage this past fall.The young couple moved to Tulsa where Judy began working for Shell Oil as an accountant. They made Tulsa their home where she gave birth to their child, Michelle Lynne “Missy” in 1969.Judy was a wonderful mother, serving as home room mom and attending every event possible at Missy’s school! She also volunteered her time to Saint Francis Hospital as a candy striper – pushing around her little cart of candy, magazines, and personal items for the patients. Judy enjoyed her time visiting with them. Judy was very involved with the Little Light House and served as President from 1975-1976. She felt honored to do this and was blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization.Judy began working again in 1984 for the Uniform Shoppe as their outside sales representative. She traveled all over Oklahoma & other parts of the country selling uniforms to military bases, hospitals, & vo-tech schools. She retired from the company in January of 2001. Through the years, Judy also helped her husband with his home building business, decorating the houses and keeping the books in order. Judy really enjoyed traveling up and down the East and West Coasts, as well as Hawaii, and spending time on the beach. She also loved reading books, especially the Bible. Judy loved going to her Bible Study Share Group, as well as her Women’s Bible Study. Judy was known for having the best green thumb around! She loved gardening and working in her beautiful yard. As a wonderful grandmother, Judy truly cherished spending time with her granddaughter, Alexis Jade, who was born in July of 2005. If fact, this was her favorite thing to do! This role in life inspired her to work for Kathleen’s Kids until her cancer diagnosis in 2018. Faith has always been the foundation of Judy’s life. Her personal relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in her life. Judy attended & was very involved with Evangelistic Temple for many years and has been an active member of Church on the Move for the past 28 years. She and Ron served on the prayer team and loved visiting and encouraging people in the hospital. Judy’s memory will be eternal in the hearts of her beloved family and numerous friends who loved her. Surviving family members include her husband, Ron Kelley; daughter, Michelle Norman and husband, Rodney of Bixby; her granddaughter, Alexis Norman; her brother, Ronald E. “Eddie” Claxton and wife, Sue of Aiken, SC and their daughter, Lisa Langford and husband Jeff, and their daughter, Meredith; brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Barbara Kelley of Sand Springs, and their daughters , Jennifer and Dustin Little, and their children Breana Little and Tyler Horn; Candice Miller and husband, Shane of Bentonville, Arkansas, and their children Olson, Calton, and Dutton; nieces and nephews, Jeff and Emily Phillips of Charlotte, SC, Kelly Phillips of Morris Plains NJ, Lynsey and Adam Sheef and son, Barrett Cable of Owasso. Judy is preceded in death by her parents Howard & Aleta Claxton.
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