Judith Evelyn Filter (Judy), 76, of Taylor was called home by her Lord and Savior early Sunday morning, Dec. 3, 2023.
Judy was born Dec. 13, 1946, in Watertown, Wisconsin, to Clarence and Margaret (Hilker) Bukatz. She was the oldest of four children with two sisters and one brother.
Judy graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1965, and attended Watertown Business School, where she completed The Secretarial Science Course in May of 1966.
While living in California after graduation, she met her first husband, Ronald Garza, a sailor in the US Navy and they married in November of 1969.
After leaving California, Judy and Ronald moved to Austin and had three children, a son and two daughters, John, Marie (Missy) and Samantha. With three children ages 4 and under, they moved to a small country farmhouse, just south of Taylor.
Judy was devoted to her children and the countless sports and extracurricular activities they were involved in while in school.
She worked in several administrative positions in her career before retiring in 2013 from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where she was an advocate for victims’ families.
In retirement she enjoyed attending a multitude of school lunches, events and programs for her seven grandchildren.
She loved animals and living the peaceful, quiet life out in the country. She found much joy in crafting. She embraced wholeheartedly the 80s and 90s fads of painted shirts, shoes, accessories and crafty home décor. She enjoyed traveling and visiting her Wisconsin family as often as she could.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sandra Kay Branski; and beloved in-laws, Andrew and Billie Garza.
Judy is survived by her three children, John (Holly) Garza, Marie (Missy) Gregory and Samantha (Matt) Findley; her seven grandchildren, Kristen Garza, Emily (Darin) Ellington, Chance and Lauren Garza, Noah (Crystal) Hurst, Benjamin and Jacob Gregory; two step-grandchildren, John Ryan and Trenton Gregory; six great-grandchildren, William and Wraegan Ellington, Wrenley Nelson, and Hayden, Maverick and Zelda Hurst, who arrived in this world just as her Oma was leaving this world; her brother, Gerry (Debbie) Bukatz; and sister, Rebecca (Dennis) Borkenhagen; along with her first husband, Ronald (Peggy) Garza; extended daughter, Andrea Montecinos; extended granddaughters, Sophia and Olivia; sisters-in-love, Deanna (William) Fenwick and Beverly (David) Johnson; beautiful aunt and matriarch of her Texas family, Perry Mae Hill; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family whom she loved with all her heart.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Providence Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Monday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., at Providence Funeral Home with burial to follow at Taylor City Cemetery.
Reception to follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
We would like to thank Mom’s Baylor Scott and White Hospice team, BSW Hospital in Round Rock, and the staff at Falcon Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Hutto for the abundance of love, amazing care and support she received in her final months with us.
