Judy Faye (Casey) Smith passed away At 11:48 PM 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 August 20, 1953 in Monterey, California. When she was five, her family moved to Turlock, California. She graduated from Turlock High School in 1971 and moved to the Foothills a few years later. 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 November 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 3 or 4 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 7 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, 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’s phone (and doorbell) was always ringing with people who loved her, her kitchen filled with the warm smells of a new dish she was successfully testing out, her TV on with an uplifting show or movie, and she was constantly planning an upcoming gathering of people.
Even when Judy’s body did not have the strength to travel or move around anymore, she continued to serve and connect, texting recipes and sewing tips to family or distributing her treasured items to others. She even found ways to order others around from her bed, ensuring her legacy of detailed planning was firmly in place among those whom she loved so well.
Judy is survived by her husband, Allan; her stepsons, Todd (Candie) Smith and Kevin (Julie) Smith and her grandchildren, Timothy (Rebecca) Coatney, Jennifer Smith, Jody Smith, Shawn Barton, Shane Barton, Ellen (Anthony) Lee, Cammie Smith, Samantha (Shaun) Lynn, Ian Smith and Kyle Smith as well as twelve great grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters, Jackie
Crutchfield and L. Kaye (Doug) Hanson and her brothers, James (Kathleen) Casey and J.B. (Linda) Casey as well as multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, and cousins.
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 AM graveside service at Mountain Shadow Cemetery, Lyons Bald Mountain Rd, Sonora, followed by a lunch in her honor at 12 PM in the Cultural Hall at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 19481 Hillsdale Dr, Sonora, CA 95370.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Adventist Health Hospice 20100 Cedar Road North, Sonora, California 95370
Please direct any questions to Judy’s favorite niece, Lee Ann Fleming at fleminglee@gmail.com
