Judy Parker Clymer, a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother, went peacefully to her heavenly home on February 4, 2022.  She was 79.

A memorial service will take place at First Christian Church of Wichita Falls on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Judy's honor to the Garden of the Cross at First Christian Church of Wichita Falls.

Judy was a lifelong resident of Wichita Falls.  Born on April 17, 1942 to Garnett and Louise Parker, Judy was the youngest of three sisters.  Her older sisters, Peaches Parker Brookshire and Kay Parker Cannan, would remain some of her closest confidants throughout her life.   Judy grew up in the same house that she would later share with her husband Ray Clymer and their children.  Judy graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1960, and attended The University of Texas in Austin where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

Judy will be remembered by her family and friends for her courage, determination, and ability to put a positive spin on any situation.   Judy's demonstrative resiliency was in part formed by twice losing a home and most of her material possessions.  In 1971, Judy returned home to find that the home she shared with her children had been destroyed by a fire.   In 1979, her house was leveled by a tornado.  While incredibly devastating, Judy always emphasized that neither she nor her children were injured and only they were irreplaceable.

In 1974, Judy met the love of her life, John Raymond Clymer, Jr.   After a fairytale courtship, they would marry on January 24, 1981.  They had seven children between them: Mike Clymer, Ray Clymer III, Kelly Clymer, Shannon Ford, Parker Ford, Taylor Ford and Garnett Clymer.

They shared the adventure and romance of a lifetime, and made the perfect team.   Judy and Ray enjoyed traveling around the world fly fishing and doing other things, but they were always drawn to their retreats in Palm Springs, California and at Possum Kingdom Lake, where Judy had grown up going with her family.   At Possum Kingdom, they loved spending Saturday afternoons on their boat, which Ray named the Madame Queen in Judy's honor.  They often spent weekends there with their children.

While Judy had many of her own philanthropic interests, she took most pride in being Ray's biggest supporter in everything he did.  Whether it was pulling together a business dinner for 12 at their home on a moment's notice (thankfully she was a gourmet cook), going on last minute business trips or supporting whatever cause Ray was involved in, Judy was always by his side.  She was the epitome of the woman behind the man, and he would not have been nearly who he was without her.  And, she would not have been nearly who she was without him.   They truly completed the other.

Judy was blessed to have many friends over the course of her life, and she had a number of interests and hobbies in which she would often involve her friends.  She loved to garden.  Judy grew tomatoes, squash and other vegetables, and maintained immaculate yards at her home in Wichita Falls and even at Possum Kingdom.   She was known to send fresh vegetables and caladium and tulip bulbs to her friends, family and others.   She was a skilled jigsaw puzzler and card player, and passed on her love for both to her kids and grandkids.  Later in life, Judy took up mahjong, hosting a weekly game with her girlfriends.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ray; her children Shannon, Parker and Taylor; and her sister Peaches Brookshire.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Garnett Clymer Holmes and husband Michael Holmes, along with their children Graham, Helen, Andrew, Taylor and Parker, as well as by Mike Clymer, Ray Clymer III, Kelly and Laura Clymer, and ten additional grandchildren:  John Clymer, Taylor Clymer, Garnett Ford, Hawley Ford, Britt Ford, Sam Ford, Caroline Ford, Jackson Ford, Ethan Ford and Landon Ford.   She is also survived by her sister Kay Cannan, and numerous of her sisters' children, spouses and grandchildren, who Judy loved dearly and was incredibly proud of.

Judy will be remembered by her family and friends for many things, but perhaps mostly how she always welcomed them into her home with love, a smile and food.   Her grandkids will remember her chocolate sheet cake, sugar cookies, scalloped potatoes and just about everything else she cooked.   While Judy suffered much loss during her life, she never complained and was thankful for all of her many blessings.  She left an imprint on everyone.  She will be dearly missed.

No summary of Judy's life would be complete without mention of Ben Stewart, who has worked for the family for almost 40 years and became like family to not only Judy and Ray, but also their children.  Ben was instrumental in almost everything the family did, and was Judy's accomplice in gardening.   The family also wants to provide special recognition to Cora Norris, who cared for Judy and Ray for over a decade.   Finally, the family extends heartfelt thanks to Judy's wonderful caregivers over the last year: Terri Weeks, Robin Russell and Amber Higginbotham of Kindred Hospice.