Judy Matheny

Judith (Judy) Yvonne Matheny, daughter of the late Carl and Beatrice Wyman Newton, was born February 10, 1936, in Cleo Springs, Oklahoma and passed from this life at her home on January 5, 2024 at the age of 87.

Judy grew up on a farm near Cleo Springs, OK as one of 14 siblings where among other things she was a bit of a cowgirl and participated in various rodeos and horse race events. After attending Oklahoma State University for 2 years she married and had 4 children. They lived in Texas and seasonally in New Mexico. When the children were between 7 and 12 years old she became a single parent and moved to Kansas where she worked various successful job positions to support her family, breaking the gender barrier multiple times while increasing position status with every change. She even took a shot at entrepreneurship with an RV park and convenience store in the Missouri Ozarks. During all of this, she was a fully engaged mother and community member attending innumerable kid’s sporting and music events, being PTA President, serving on the City Council, volunteering significantly at her church, serving as a music theatre volunteer, and much more including even being a girl’s softball and boy’s baseball coach.

Judy was always warm, welcoming, and helpful to all she knew and absolutely loved playing cards and games. She was always helpful to a family member or friend in need and strongly supported her children in all their endeavors.

Judy is survived by three sons and a daughter, Rick and Terry Matheny of Columbia, MO, Reagan and Trish Matheny of Aurora, MO, Steve and Tonya Matheny of Dodge City, KS, and Diane Killough of Wichita, KS; two brothers, Clark (Joyce) Newton and Robert Newton; five grandchildren, Michael (Monica) Matheny, Nicole Matheny, Shelby (Ben) Grubbs, Sydney (Brandon) Volz, and Dance Killough; and nine great-grandchildren, Lane, Elouise, Grayson, and Mack Matheny; Charley, Rory, and Bradley Grubbs; and Brexley and Briar Volz.

Besides her parents, Judy is preceded in death by six sisters, Ila Brandt, Ineta Rader, Ida Opperman, Rose Gillig, Joyce Swart, and Charlotte Newton; and five brothers, Lloyd, Bill, C.A., Jake, and Theodore Newton.

A visitation and funeral service for Judith will be held Friday, January 19, 2024. Visitation will beginning at 1 PM in The Harbor Room and service will follow at 2:00 PM at Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N. Meridian Ave, Wichita, KS 67204. (Please use the South Entrance at the Church) Following the funeral service will be a committal service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.

In lieu of flowers memorials have been established in Judy's honor to Day Dreams Foundation, 1 E Broadway, Suite C | Columbia, MO 65203, http://www.daydreamsfoundation.org and Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, https://www.dementiasociety.org