Judy Gail Kibodeaux

JUDY GAIL KIBODEAUX, our “Cajun Mom & Maw Maw”, passed suddenly and peacefully to her Eternal Life in Heaven on Friday, December 29, 2023, having her granddaughter, Kylee, by her side with Zydeco music playing in the background.

Judy was born in Crowley, Louisiana, in 1943 and she cherished her Cajun roots, food, culture and music. She would always say she wanted to “cut a rug” which meant for her to jitter-bug dance and she could dance better than any other.

Her father worked in the rice mill industry, and he relocated her and her family to Beaumont, Texas, when she was around the age of 13.

During her Jr. High School years, she became “Jr. High Sweethearts” with a boy named Billy “Bill” Ballard. Together they later attended South Park High School. At the end of high school, they married and together had 3 children, Pattie, Delisia “Lisa” and Glenn. Even though they later divorced, they shared their continued friendship and love for their children for over 67 years. Judy later achieved her GED Certificate at the age of 53. Billy and Judy reconnected with classmates and were part of the South Park Class of 1962 Reunions.

Judy remarried once in her life and became a stepmother to two sons, Brett & Dean. She dearly loved both boys during the years she shared with them.

She had an amazing voice and love to sing. She enjoyed Gospel, Zydeco, and singers like Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Kenny Rogers and Jerry Lee Lewis.

A couple of sports that she loved were bowling and fishing. Judy was a true Angler, and she could catch more fish and crabs than all competitors. She always said the fish and crabs were drawn to her straw hat. She spent many weekends on lakes, ponds and jetties with her kids, friends and family.

She was known not only by her cooking but also by how well she always kept her appearance. She had nicely teased beautiful black hair, beautiful natural brown toned skin, perfect make-up and jewelry that matched every outfit she wore. Her daughters always said, “our mother didn’t get ready, she decorated herself”.

Judy loved to “go to Walmart”, and she loved to play Bingo.

Her calling in life was taking care of babies and elderly. She naturally and patiently knew how to care for and heal anyone that was ailing.

At age 59, her newborn grandson, Haden, was born into her life and she was blessed to have adopted and raised him for 8 years until her own health failed. Haden will always be a special bond to her. She also cared for and help to raise Haden’s two sisters, Tabitha and Taylor and they are forever her granddaughters.

Judy became a grandmother to her first grandchild, J.C. when she was 39 years old. She spent many days and nights fishing with him from a floating dock on her pond. J.C. remembers all the childhood memories of them on that dock, no cameras, nothing but him and Maw Maw, the moonlight and her pistol in the  tacklebox for protection. Many times, she would join him on the dock after she arrived home from work and they fished all night together.

As a beloved Mother, she was devoted to children and grandchildren and loved to prepare and serve homemade meals to everyone. She was a lead Chef when it came to preparing large Cajun meals for her friends and family. Her gumbo, etouffee, chicken fricassee’, round steak & gravy, cush-cush, chicken & dumplings and banana pudding were deliciously rememberable. She made the darkest of all homemade rouxs.

Judy had the most amazing laughter. Her daughters would take her to the theater to watch funny movies just to listen to her laugh. She loved the sit com, Laverne & Shirley as it reminded her of her younger days with her friends.  She also loved to watch the Madea movies and her favorite other movie was Steel Magnolias.

Pink & mauve Victorian style fabric and flowers were her favorites. She also loved any type of decorative Angel.  She collected Angels and had very many. She was talented at making flower arrangements and she would give as gifts.

Young in life she was licensed hair stylist. She later became a business owner for many years in Port Arthur, Texas.

Her biggest joy was just being “Maw Maw” to everyone in the family and their friends. She shared a home with her granddaughter, Kylee, for a short time and provided love and care for her newborn great-granddaughter, Brynlee Self.  She always referred to Brynlee as “my baby”.

Judy had many beloved pets in her lifetime, namely, Tricia, Crawfish, Scooter, Pandy, Bunny and her final pet, a gray Schnauzer named sweet Pepper. Pepper was the most loyal pet and she loved to protect Judy. Pepper lived to be 18 ½ years old and passed away last November. They are now reunited in Heaven.

Preceded in death before Judy are her parents, Wilbert Kibodeaux and Mary Delia Kibodeaux; her sister and brother-in-law, Mattie Louise Mire and Clifford Mire; her brother, Wilbert James Kibodeaux; mother-in-law, Laura Ballard; son-in-Laws, Mark Matthews and Alan Barnes; sister-in-Law and brother-in-law; Brenda Ballard Villacis and Juan Villacis.

Judy is survived by her loyal friend, Bill Ballard; daughters, Pattie Ballard Plank and her husband, Russell, Lisa Ballard Matthews and love, Patrick Shelton; son, Glenn Ballard; step-sons, Brett Manceaux and Dean Manceaux; sister-in-law, Betty Kibodeaux; grandsons, J. C. Reynolds, III and wife, Kylee Reynolds, Brandon Eason, Brett Plank and wife, Meghan, Ryan Stoker and partner, Britney Jefferson, Dhane Ballard and partner, Courtney Busby, Haden Ballard & Nickolas Ballard; granddaughters, Kylee Self and husband Bill, Daphney Hebert, Kiera Bell and wife, Aimee, Tabitha Brooks and husband, Shawn, Taylor Holste along with 7 other grandchildren and with 16 plus great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Keith Eason; daughter-in-law, Lauren Lockwood and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thank you to Dr. Chad Hammett and other doctors, nurses, aides and staff at Silsbee Oaks Health Care and Christus St. Elizabeth ER & ICU, and numerous other loving providers, nurses & caregivers and neighbors. The care and friendship meant so much to her and her family.

Judy’s cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  There will be no services at this time. A Celebration of Life will be arranged at a later date to be announced.

Written condolences to family can be mailed c/o Lisa Matthews, P. O. Box 205, China, Texas 77613 and will be distributed.

Memorial contributions can be made to SweetPups Nation Rescue and Sanctuary, 1065 Evangeline Lane, Vidor, Texas 77662.