Judith Duey

Judith Carol (Howard) Duey was received into the arms of her Lord, Jesus, and into the presence of her heavenly Father on December 3, 2020. Judi, as she preferred to be called, was born on February 4, 1946, to Reverend Richard E. and Winifred G. (Maddox) Howard in Boston, Massachusetts. As a preacher’s kid, her inborn gifting to notice and relate to people was developed and refined as her family ministered in a variety of communities and churches. As she matured, that ability to see and connect with individuals became her ministry as she became a generous, overflowing spring of God’s love.

After graduating from high school in Peabody, Massachusetts, Judi began her college studies at her parents’ alma mater, Eastern Nazarene College (ENU). When her father was offered a professorship at Bethany Nazarene College (SNU), Judi moved with her family once again to Bethany, Oklahoma, to continue her studies at BNC. In 1967, Judi was introduced to a new freshman from a farming community in Missouri and was informed on their first date that he was going to marry her. She promptly dissuaded him of that delusion, but on June 20, 1969, Judi was united in marriage to Carl E. Duey at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene.

Judi’s education was interrupted again in December, 1970, with the birth of their daughter, Shelley. With Carl’s graduation the following June, Judi packed up her home, the first of many times, to move her little family to Mountain Grove, Missouri. Judi quickly stepped into responsibility in the local church. Teaching children was her passion—in Sunday School classes, in VBS and Caravans, under a tree on a hillside in Africa, in a public school classroom, in a Christian preschool classroom, even as a substitute teacher for an auto body class in a vocational school! But for Judi, the best assignment was rocking and loving on babies in the church nursery, especially if they were her babies. In 1973, Judi gave birth to their first son, James. In 1976, another son, Rick, was added to make the Duey family complete; and Judi settled into her assignment as wife and mother.

While living in Missouri, Judi served several years as Missionary Society president and church board member. As they studied about, prayed for, and contributed to the missionary work of the Church of the Nazarene around the world; God began dealing with Judi and Carl about making themselves available for a short-term assignment. This eventually led them to serve four years in Swaziland and two years in Malawi with the Church of the Nazarene. Judi’s love for people, especially children, continued to be expressed as she ministered to the needs of women and children in Africa. To make a home for her family in Africa was difficult and exhausting, but Judi opened her home to two little girls in Swaziland and a little boy abandoned in Malawi. She and Carl were in the process of adopting Phillip when his father returned to take him to Mozambique. Judi’s prayers and love followed Phillip into Mozambique until she received word that he had died from malaria. We are assured that she is again holding Phillip as she had always yearned to do.

Returning from Africa, Judi soon was loving and guiding her 4-year-old students at Lake View Academy, ministering God’s love to hurting parents and co-workers as well as to the children. Judi finished her professional life working with special needs children in the Putnam City Schools but continued to love on babies as her own children became parents and gave her the new title, “Ouma”. In addition to the seven blood-born grandchildren she loved so much, she also had four heart-born grandchildren that she loved, prayed for, and invested herself in.

After retiring and as her grandchildren matured, Judi’s ministry and love for people gradually transitioned to a life of prayer and encouragement. In particular, she cared for women who needed to know that there was a Father who loved unconditionally, gave fully of Himself, and never disappointed. She prayed faithfully, daily through a lengthy prayer list. A person was blessed to be on it. During the last three years of her life, Judi’s ministry assignment became Stephenson Cancer Center as she laid her hands on and prayed for dozens of fellow patients, doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. Her words at the beginning of that journey were, “I want to do this right!” Always, regardless of position, location, title, or assignment; Judi’s goal was in all things to please her Lord.

Judi was preceded in death by her parents and by her beloved aunt, Carol Jones, for whom she was named. She is survived by her husband, Carl; her daughter, Richelle E. Reedy (Dennis); her sons, Carl James and Richard E. (Amy) ; her brother, Roy N. Howard; her granddaughters, Taryn Reedy, Katelyn Duey, Lauren Duey, and Ezarai Duey; her grandsons, Derek Reedy, Daniel Reedy, and Evan Duey; and her niece, Catherine Howard (Timothy Carley). Also mourning her passing are her heart-born grandchildren, Michael Atkinson (Dallas), Hannah Atkinson, Miriam Atkinson, and Bjorn Renuart.