Judy Kay (Lewis) Spears, daughter of James Bernard "Skeeter" Lewis and Trella Hazel (Carroll) Lewis was born May 13, 1944 and died January 5, 2024 at the age of 79. She is survived by daughter Sarah Ann Sandy (Dale) and Gerald Wilson Bowman II (Lisa), grandchildren Megan Elizabeth Dobiecki (Kyle), Benjamin Jacob Sandy (Kelsey), Taylor Ann Bowman and Gerald Wilson (Wil) Bowman III, great-granddaughters Elliott Rose Dobiecki, Parker Claire Sandy and sister Janis (Lewis) Purves. She was preceded in death by her parents James Bernard and Trella Hazel Lewis, and brother James Bernard (Jim Bob) Lewis II.

Judy was born in Miami, OK and moved with her family to Joplin, MO in her early childhood. She became a resident of Springfield, MO in middle school and attended Parkview High School. While there, she met Gerald Wilson Bowman and they were married in 1962. Together they had two children, Sarah Ann born in 1965 and Gerald Wilson II (Gerry) in 1967. In starting a family, Judy discovered a love for children which she would carry with her throughout her life, playing intregal roles in the lives of her four grandchildren and eventually teaching preschool.

Prior to starting a family, Judy was employed at American National Insurance as a secretary. Once she became a mother, she spent many years as a homemaker taking care of her family and eventually was employed at the American Cancer Society (Springfield location) when her children were in elementary school. At age 42, Judy was faced with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis which began a series of challenging years. With bravery, determination and God's grace she faced these years with disability all while supporting her family by caring for her grandchildren in their early years. To this day, her adult grandkids love to share stories of their "shenanigans" and time spent at Grammy's house. Around the age of 65, as a member of Glendale Christian Church, Judy spent several years enriching the lives of children and teaching littles who attended Kids Korner Preschool at GCC.

There will be a visitation held to honor Judy's life at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 5:00-7:00pm. Her family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and employees at The Oaks Cottage Assisted Living & Memory Care as well as Terrace Home Health & Hospice for the love and care you have given our mom in the last three years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to support the staff of these organizations. Please see Sarah for more information.