Judith Hughes Kelley

Born Thursday September 27, 1945 to Marion and Eugenia Hawkins Hughes in St. George Utah, passed Thursday April 5, 2024 at her home in Logan Utah.

Judy and her family lived in Mesquite, Nevada, where the Hughes Family had settled the area. She enjoyed growing up with her family and extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. She remembered her great great grandmother Leavitt telling stories of when she was a little girl in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Judy graduated from Virgin Valley High School in 1963. After graduation, she moved to Provo, Utah, where she received a scholarship to cosmetology school. This is where she met Carvel Flake in October, 1963. She married him Saturday, February 1,1964 in the St. George Temple. They moved around to many places throughout Utah, Arizona, and Nevada during their 17 years of marriage. During that time, they brought seven children into their family-five daughters and finally two sons.

Judy eventually went back to school at Utah State University to pursue further education. After five years, she graduated in June, 1988, with a degree in special education and a minor in arts and humanities.

Judy and Carl Eugene Kelley had known each other, and had their first date Friday, August 30, 1996, then were engaged Monday, September 2, 1996. They married on Saturday, November 30, 1996 in Mesquite, Nevada, surrounded by family and friends.

Judy and Carl were later sealed in the St. George Temple on Saturday, November 28, 1998. They eventually made their home together in Logan, Utah. They have been married 27 years and  6 months. They had a full life together, which was riddled by health challenges for both of them.

Judy’s greatest loves were music, nature-especially mountains and her family and friends. She loved her siblings, nieces, nephews, her children and all of her grandchildren. If you married a family member you were family! Later in life, she grew very fond of her three cats. In which Tobby Cat would save her life during seizures on several occasions by waking Carl up.

Judy always loved being surrounded by her family and friends. She always had encouraging words that were filled with love for anyone that visited. 

Judy had great faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, always knowing they loved and cared for her. All throughout her life she would rely on her faith and testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which she lived through being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was grateful for and relied on the examples and testimonies of her parents, grandparents and their pioneer ancestors before them.

Judy’s faith is her legacy that she leaves with her 12 children, 34 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She loved all of the 25 family members that were, are, and will be this year, missionaries; and those that served our country in  the military. 

Preceded in death by her parents -Tex (Marion) and Gean (Eugenia); her in-laws Dan and Gean Reber Kelley; Two sisters, Dorothy Bernice and Tamara Gae; step-son, Daniel and two grandsons, John Alan and Shane Afton.

She is survived by her husband Carl Kelley and combined they have

Her siblings; Eugene (Connie), Gary (Ilene), Von (Mel), Marion Kaye, Cliff (Laurie).

His siblings; Vanessa, Leslie, Gayla, and Brandon Kelley.

Her children; Caralee (Emory), Jana (Scott), Joy (Bob), Michelle (Eric), Amy (Ryan), Kendall (Chandra), Kim (Asami); Her step-children, Naomi, William, Alex and Dea.

   Faith

Faith is knowing the sun will rise,

Lighting each new day.

Faith is knowing the Lord will hear

My prayers each time I pray.

Faith is like a little seed:

If planted, it will grow.

Faith is a swelling within my heart.

When I do right, I know.

Faith is knowing I lived with God

Before my mortal birth.

Faith is knowing I can return when

My life ends on earth.

Faith is trust in God above,

In Christ, who showed the way.

Faith is strengthened;

 I feel it grow whenever I obey.   

The Children's Songbook

Words by Beatrice Goff Jackson  Music by Michael Finlinson Moody