Judy Perry

Judy Lee Mitchell, the daughter of Lee and Vurlea Mitchell, was born May 5, 1957, in Hoobs, New Mexico, and departed this life at McAllen Center in McAllen, Texas, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the age of 67.

As an infant with severe congenital defects, Judy was adopted by Lee Vurlea Mitchell of Duncan, Oklahoma. When she was nine months old, in a vegetative state, her parents took her to a healing meeting where God miraculously touched her. She began to look around and move around like other her age, and she would go on to become an alert young student who would excel at school and become a very competent librarian. As she grew and matured, she chose to trust and follow Jesus as her Savior and Lord.

Judy graduated from Duncan High School in 1975 and then attended Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, for three years. In 1979 she transferred to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she received her B.S. in education, with certification in school libraries. She worked as a librarian at Southern Bible College in Houston, Texas, from 1979 to 1984. During these years, she was "adopted" by the Ralph and Norma Harlan family.

After studying at the University of Texas in Austin from July 1984 to December 1987, Judy received her master's in library science. She was a member of the Texas Library Association and worked for the McAllen Public Library from 1988 to 2012. With enthusiasm and joy, she served the patrons of the library in the reference and audiovisual departments and assisted public service professionals. Many of those years, she was in a supervisory position.

Judy met Forrest Perry at the McAllen First Assembly of God in 1994, and they were married on June 26, 1999. They were both very faithful to give of themselves in ministry for Jesus at the church until health problems began to limit their ability. Judy was ever present as the Sunday school secretary and served as treasurer of the women's ministry. She also assisted Forrest in Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC) ministry.

In the last decade Judy's health began to decline to the point that she became bedfast. Even then, she enjoyed calling family and friends on the phone and sharing something that would bring a smile. On September 9, her health took a sharp turn for the worse, and she was admitted to the McAllen Medical Center. She went home to be with Jesus in heaven shortly after noon on September 12.

Judy is survived by her stepson, Phil (Barb) Perry, of Sheridan, Wyoming; three step-grandsons and two step-granddaughters; her sister-in-law, Sharon (Kenneth) Holmgren, of St. Paul, Minnesota; two step-nephews and one step-niece; nine step-great-nieces and one step-great-nephew; one sister, Angela; and Norma Harlan Johnston and Kristie Harlan Beene. She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest, her parents, and two sisters.

A visitation will be held Sunday September 22, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Palm Valley 4607 N. Sugar Rd Pharr, TX 78577 with a prayer service at 6:00 PM. The visitation will continue Monday September 23, 2024 at 9:00AM with a funeral at 12:00PM at Funeraria Del Angel Palm Valley 4607 N. Sugar Rd Pharr, TX 78577. The burial will be Monday September 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens 4607 N. Sugar Rd Pharr, TX 78577.