Judy Gray Seeger Cherry, 84, of Columbus, Nebraska, died August 17, 2024, at Meridian Gardens.

The funeral service will be held Friday, August 23rd at 10:00 AM, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3026 38th Street in Columbus with Pastor Ben Sosa officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, August 22nd from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Friday from 9:00 AM until the service time at the church. Unless otherwise specified, memorials will be for a use to be determined at a later date by the family. The funeral service will be broadcast live at https://sda.today/

Judy was born July 14, 1940 in Shelton, NE to Ted and Mary (Deapen) Gray. She attended Platte Valley Academy in Shelton, NE and graduated from Union College in Lincoln with a degree in Secretarial Science. Soon after, she married Charles Seeger in a double wedding ceremony along with her sister, Teddi and her fiancé.

Judy and Charles (Chuck) moved to Memphis, TN, where 2 of their 3 daughters were born. After Chuck completed optometry school they moved to Columbus where he began his optometry practice in partnership with Dr. Charles Gray.

Judy began working as an executive secretary and later became a legal secretary for Gale Tessendorf where she was an indispensable part of his law practice for 20 years. Judy loved her work and after leaving that job, she continued offering her razor sharp skills as an Accountant and Tax Preparer for Harold Stevens, working even beyond normal retirement age.

In 1986, she tragically lost her dear husband, Chuck, after 22 years of marriage, which was devastating for their family. Judy had a strong faith in God, who took care of her during that time and within a few years, He brought her together with the second love of her life, Earl Cherry of Genoa. They shared a loving marriage for 34 years.

Judy loved her church and her Sabbaths. She was a devoted member of the Columbus Seventh Day Adventist Church where she was their reliable organist for many years. She was loved by everyone and the members refer to her as "our matriarch."

She had many friends and was active in Sorority and bridge clubs. She belonged to a special group of ladies called the "Ski Club" that began as actual snow skiing, then later in life continued to just meet together faithfully as often as they could.

She loved shopping, particularly shoes and was always dressed in smart, put together attire, usually with a bit of bling! She also really loved her cars and for many years drove a convertible where she was known to keep the speed up and the top down!

Judy was a more than loving mother to her 3 daughters, who she called every day, even into their adult lives. She became a doting grandmother to her 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

She loved and was loved by everyone she met and had a gift for making each person feel special through her comfortable way of talking, touching and hugging. She was always offering an open invitation. There was always room for you. Everyone who met her would say that there is no one who makes you feel loved like Judy.

She is survived by:
Husband - Earl Cherry of Genoa, NE
Daughter - Amy (John Herrod) Rohe of New Orleans, LA and grandchildren Taylor Rohe (great grandchildren, Charlotte and Hazel) and Lauren (Nick) Whitney
Daughter - Kim (Don) Delana of Olathe, KS and grandchildren Lindsey (Ruben) Rodriguez and Ashley (Brandon) Tucker
Daughter - Kris Seeger of Columbus and her special dogs, Kenzieand Sonny
Sister - Tedra Harring of Denver, CO
Brother-in-law - Gary Seeger of Columbus
Sister-in-law - Susie (Jerry) Wagner of Thornton, CO
Stepdaughter - Danielle (Paul) Farias of Kearney, NE and grandson Christopher
Stepson - John Cherry of Genoa
Stepdaughter - Jennifer Keegan of St. Louis, MO and grandchildren Jack and Will

Preceded in death by:
Parents - Ted and Mary Gray
Husband - Dr. Charles Seeger
Brother and sister-in-law - Charles and Eula Gray