Judy Kay Schnell, 68 years young, was born on September 25th, 1955 to Vinia Kendrick and W. R. (Dub) Moore in Amarillo, Texas. She joined a sister, Dorothy, into a loving family.
She was an early graduate from Amarillo High School in 1973, and then she went on to Emporia State University (Kansas), where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Master’s in Botany.
Judy survived two marriages and was blessed with five beautiful children. She fiercely loved by her children and, despite a life filled with tragedy, Judy had the strongest soul imaginable, and continued to always lift others up. With this strength, and a love of life, Judy went on to teach at WNCC for 20+ years, where she not only taught Science, but changed and affected lives daily. This was very important and dear to her. With that opportunity and becoming the Division Chair for Math, Science, and P.E., she was able to make new connections and allow her outgoing personality to shine.
Judy loved being outside. She had an awe-inspiring gift of a green thumb and was highly knowledgeable about all plants. She could grow anything and had previously owned extensive gardens in California and Nebraska. Every spring, she looked forward to growing flowers and saving clearance plants from stores. But her favorite accomplishment was the many years of highly producing gardens of vegetables. But if you knew nothing else, you knew that she loved Nightmare before Christmas; to loads of memorabilia down to tattoos on her skin, her collection was vast. This, however, was not to be topped by her love of Starbucks mugs and coffee.
Judy loved football; K-State being her favorite, but the Cowboys and the Ravens were good too. Any family or friend playing a sport, Judy could be counted on to go watch it and cheering as loudly as she could. One of her favorite past times was hanging out with the girls. And her friends will tell you, Judy was their crazy friend. Let’s be honest though, Judy didn’t have friends; she had only family. Adopting everyone around her, from long-term friends of her kids to international basketball dorm daughters, and soccer kids. Judy felt a weight on her heart, to specifically take in foreign kids because they were the ones that needed it the most. These kids were so far away from their own families, and struggled with language, and a change in culture. And while she changed their lives, they changed hers just as much. Even though they have moved on from Scottsbluff, they were and still are her kids.
Her one and only grandchild, Zyler, was the light of her life. And while she dreaded his teenage years, she would always lend an ear to whatever he needed/wanted to talk about. She would even get out and try her best to play whatever game he was into. She loved nothing more than rooting for whatever he was passionate about.
Judy was a fighter and had conquered Breast Cancer, two forms of Skin Cancer, a brain bleed, an aneurysm, a brain tumor, and a hip break. But unfortunately, she was called to rest on January 2nd, 2024 at 10:30am. Her passing has left this world a darker place.
She is preceded in Death by her mother (Vinia), her father (Dub), sister (Dorothy), her son (Jeremy), and her daughter-in-law (Linda).
She is survived by her two daughters, her son, one grandchild, and so many that she called family.
A visitation will be held at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 4-7pm with funeral services at Dugan Kramer on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 2pm with Pastor Jeff Fiet officiating. Fond memories and messages of sympathy may be shared for the family at www.dugankramer.com