Judith (Judy) Allen Gregory, 85, who lived most of her life in Centralia but had lived in Vincennes, Indiana, since mid-July of 2022, passed away Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. She was born on October 1, 1938, the daughter of Glen and Wilma (Margrave) Osborn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She married the love of her life, Lewis H. Gregory on October 14, 1957, in Mt. Vernon, and he preceded her in death on January 6, 2022.
Survivors who will remember Judy’s loving nature include her beloved family, son, Steven Mark Gregory of Vincennes, Indiana; brother, Don Osborn and wife Brenda of Casey; brother-in-law, George “Butch” Clark Gregory and wife Mary of Reeds Spring, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Georgia E. Peterson and husband Reeve of San Diego, California, and Mary Jo Buchanan and husband Terry of Mt. Vernon; several nephews and nieces, cousins, and extended family.
Along with her devoted husband of 64 years, Lewis Gregory, Judy was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jerry Osborn.
A graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, Judy worked briefly as a telephone operator in northern Illinois. Education was very important to her. She enjoyed reading and sharing books and magazines with friends and neighbors. Judy had a special love for animals. In her youth, she had a horse named Juicy Fruit, and she had many dogs during her life, including Teddy, Trixie, Tazzy, and Maggie, as well as a cat named Muffy. Judy loved to have plants and flowers both indoors and outdoors. Judy and Lewis enjoyed feeding and watching birds in their backyard. In her younger and middle years, she was an excellent baker and cook. In their later years, Judy and Lewis enjoyed the meals and fellowship at Project Bread Golden Age Senior Center.
Judy was the heart and soul of her family and always felt it a privilege to nurture and care for her husband and son and her mother and stepmother during the later years of their lives. With a special concern for the lonely and marginalized, Judy was kind, generous, and inspiring to everyone who knew her.
Judy testified to her faith in Jesus, and His name was one of the last things that she said. Earlier in her life after moving from Mt. Vernon to Centralia, she had attended the First Church of the Nazarene in Centralia. While in assisted living and nursing homes in Vincennes, she enjoyed attending church services and Bible studies.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, December 21, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Pastor Tim Mondy officiating. Interment will follow at Old Shiloh Cemetery in Jefferson County. Friends are welcome to a visitation time from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 20, and 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in Judy’s honor to the Audubon Society, the Centralia First Church of the Nazarene, and/or Marion County –BCMW Project B.R.E.A.D. Online condolences and memories of Judy may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or the funeral home’s Facebook page. Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia is privileged to assist the family of Judy Gregory with arrangements.
