Mrs. Judith Anne (Foley) King

Day, at the age of 75, in Houston, Texas, succumbing to a decade-long struggle with

Alzheimer’s disease during which she displayed her trademark courage.

Judy was born on July 25, 1946 in Natchez, Mississippi to Gerard and Louise Foley. She was

the eldest of eight siblings. Sharing love and laughter with her brother and six sisters — as

caretaker, friend, and finally as they dotingly looked after her — was the foundation for a life

forged around relationships and faith.

Judy’s lifelong love of music began with childhood piano lessons. She was the first in her family

to attend college, where she met her first husband, Jerry Dibble. They had three children

together, Elizabeth, Jerry, Jr., and Jason, whom she raised on a steady diet of love and lullabies.

She went on to become a teacher, leaving her loving imprint on scores of children at the

kindergarten and first-grade levels. She later became the first woman in her family to break into

the white-collar world, working in Houston’s bustling oil and gas industry in the 1980s and

1990s.

It was there that she met her second husband, Robert Louis King (“Bob”). Together they found a

life of joy and adventure, journeying to far-flung destinations steeped in history from the Roman

Coliseum to the mystical shrines of Kyoto. She also had the joy of becoming stepmother to

Bob’s children Karen, Neil, Craig, and Mat.

The Alzheimer’s diagnosis that cruelly and slowly sapped her memory could neither smother the

joy in her soul nor dampen the dulcet tones of her melodious singing voice. In her last years,

Judy lit up the nursing home where she lived, endearing herself to residents and staff alike with

spirited renditions of Elvis Presley, the Supremes, George Strait, and countless others. Her

family will always remember the annual birthday “singing telegram” she delivered via phone to

each of them without fail.

Judy was a loving daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother who will be remembered for her

endearing smile, warm laugh, and hugs galore. The loss of her is immense and beyond

measure. She will be loved and cherished always for the example she set in living life as a

song, centered around God and family. Her legacy of love will live on through the many people

whose lives she touched and shaped.

Judy is preceded in death by her loving husband of 20 years, Robert Louis King (“Bob”). She is

survived by three children Elizabeth Follis and husband Ray, Jerry Dibble, Jr. and partner

Tamee Poling, Jason Dibble and wife Mary; as well as four stepchildren, Karen King, Neil King

and wife Nanaka, Craig King and wife Carey, Mat King and wife Sara.

She is survived by her five granddaughters, Elisa Dibble, Abby Follis and partner Andrew

Aurand, Amber Cassell and husband Brendan, April Follis, Ava Follis; and her five step

granddaughters, Casey Applegate and husband Josh, Kiela and Mia King, Caleigh and Reagan

King.

Additionally, she is survived by all of her siblings, Donna Simpson, Jerry Foley, Colleen Peacock

and husband Randy, Nicki Lockridge and husband Darrell, Mary Telschow and husband Arlie,

Brigid Tabor and husband Paul, JoBeth McLaughlin and husband Doug, along with 22 nieces

and nephews and their families.

The family will receive friends from 5:30pm until 8:00pm Tuesday, November 16, at Forest Park

The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, TX 77384. A rosary will be

prayed beginning at 6:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be at 12 pm, Wednesday, November 17, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic

Church, 7801 Bay Branch Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77382.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the King family.