Judie was born July 19, 1941 to parents Walter Reid Ford and Ann Nadine Rutledge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She lost both her parents at a very young age. First her father, an Air Force Pilot during WWII and her mother from Leukemia when she was only 10 years old. She and her brother Stephen (Walter Stephen Ford) were raised in Riverside, California and then in the San Francisco East Bay area by their Aunt and Uncle. Judie entered into eternal rest on June 10, 2019 following her battle after a severe stroke in June 2016. She worked at many jobs throughout her life, most recently at Argon Medical Corporation in Athens, Texas for 24 years. She and her husband, retired Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Donald retired in 2004. Judie, not one to sit still for very long, volunteered at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Tool, Texas for several years as well as they both volunteered for Meals on Wheels in the Gun Barrel City area. For many years they traveled the United States and succeeded in taking their dream trip to Alaska in 2009.
Judie’s passion was working in her yard, sun up to sun down. They loved searching for treasures at garage sales, flea markets and antique malls. For several years they operated a space at Big Daddy’s Flea Market in 7 Points as well as the Old Gun Barrel City Flea Market across the highway from Wal-Mart. They also had booths at the Wagon Wheel Antique Mall in Murchison and East Fork Antique Mall in Sunnyvale, Texas.
Judie was preceded in death by her parents; Walter and Ann Ford, her previous husband Eugene Mathis and her brother Stephen Walter Ford. She is survived by her husband Donald Smith, sons; John Lee Mathis and Allen Reid Mathis, granddaughter Halie Marie Kilpatrick and husband Eric, grandsons; Dylan Lee Mathis and Brandon Reid Black and great-grandson Mason Lee Kilpatrick.
Judie was a hard working woman and took on multiple jobs daily to support her two boys following her first marriage. Her and Donald were married for 41 years, as of Christmas Eve 2018. Judith had many friends and found so much love and compassion while at South Place Nursing Center in Athens, Texas. She was a favorite and they loved her dearly. Her husband Donald was at her side mostly every day since her stroke in 2016. Judie’s love for life will be missed by all that knew her. A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
There will be a Memorial Service and Tribute to Judie to be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 10am at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home, 601 State Hwy. 198 @ Walnut, Mabank, Texas 75147, 903-887-3111. Following the service a get together will be held at Mabank Café in Mabank, Texas.
In lieu of flowers the family request that if you can, please make a donation to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake, 10200 CR 2403, Kemp, Texas 75143, in her memory.
