Judy G. Harden

Judy G. Harden

January 15, 1942 – August 30, 2021

Judy Gaddis Harden was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on January 15th, 1942, to Dolly Elizabeth and Haskell Oscar Gaddis.  The first few years of her life, she lived in Wagner, Oklahoma right across the street from her beloved Grandparents, Daphne Delilah Points Brinker and Oscar Aron Brinker.  Around the time she was in the first grade, her parents moved the family to Guthrie where she and her brother, Woody Gaddis, attended school.  Judy was an excellent student earning nearly all “A’s” each year before graduating high school early in the Spring of ’59.  Judy then attended Central State College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1964 and eventually a Master of Teaching in 1967.  Judy worked her way through her undergraduate years working at TG&Y in the Shoe Department, and she began her teaching career at Edmond High School, which at the time was in the building where present day Central Middle School is at 9th and Rankin.  Judy was a Bulldog through and through, and she bled maroon and gray.  Her public school teaching career spanned 32 years where she taught Business and English, and she was very involved in campus activities and served as Pep Club Sponsor, Yearbook Sponsor, and National Honor Society Sponsor to name a few.  A devoted Bulldog fan, she spent many a Friday night at football games and the winter in the gymnasium.

Judy met and later married Raymond Allen Harden on October 28th, 1965 and suffered a stillborn baby girl in 1973.  Ray and Judy then welcomed their only child, Matthew, into the world in 1975.  Judy was a very devoted wife and mother and spent countless hours with the PTO, Scouts, Sports, and many other activities Matthew was involved in.  She rarely missed any kind of activity Matthew and his friends were involved in, and this led to her garnering two additional monikers besides, “Mom”, which were, “Mama Judy”, and “Mama Harden”.  She loved and cared for all her boys like her own, and she became a, “Mama Dog” for the football team during Matthew’s High School years.  Judy also loved her Kumon family where she tutored for many years, and her teaching career spanned nearly 50 years in all.  Judy gained a reputation for being a tough teacher, but then again, you must be such when wrangling High School students.  Being a tough teacher gained her the respect of her students, and she loved seeing them grow and succeed as adults.  Matthew even had the honor of taking her typing class one Summer.

Judy’s true loves came in 2004 and 2007 when her, “Lillie Poo” and, “Wyatt Man” were born after Matthew married Sarah Jane Pollock in 2001 and gave Judy the daughter she never had.  Being retired, Judy blessed Sarah and Matt and the kids with being their childcare provider, and she loved every minute of it getting to spend so much time with her grandbabies, who affectionately called her, “Grammy”.  Out of all the names she has had, Grammy was by far her favorite.  In 2011, Judy sold her house, and Sarah and Matt sold their house to buy a larger house to bring everybody under the same roof.  What a tremendous blessing it was for Judy, Lillian, and Wyatt to get to spend so much time together while the kids were growing up.  Judy’s childcare duties evolved into what she liked to call, “Uber driver duties” driving Lillian and Wyatt to school and their other activities.  As with Matthew’s activities, she hardly missed any of their events either.  When she wasn’t on Uber duty, Judy enjoyed Red Hat events and her penny slots at the casino.

Judy fell ill with an unknown infection and succumbed to it on August 30th after a brief Hospital stay.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her baby girl, and Ray.  She is survived by Matthew, Sarah, Lillian, and Wyatt, two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews, whom she also dearly loved, on Ray’s side.  Matthew’s cousins loved their Aunt Judy so much.  Judy has gone home and has been reunited with Ray, her baby girl, and her parents and grandparents.  A viewing will be on Thursday, September 2nd from 12-8 at Matthew’s Funeral Home located at 601 South Kelly in Edmond, and the family will greet guests from 5-8.  Services for Judy will be on Friday, September 3rd at Henderson Hills Baptist Church located at 1200 East I-35 Frontage Road in Edmond with internment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery, also in Edmond.  Judy was a wonderful woman in every regard, and she will be sorely missed.  The family would like to thank the staff at Integris Health Edmond, Integris Southwest Medical Center, and Capital Hill Skilled Nursing for caring for Judy.  The family would also like to thank Wally Weaver and John Wohlgemuth from Henderson Hills for their help during this difficult time along with all the texts, calls, and emails from friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Research at omrf.org or the Edmond Public Schools Foundation at edmondpsf.org.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”  Matthew 5:4

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, Oklahoma beginning at 12:00 PM and lasting until 8:00 PM

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, at 2:00 PM with interment following at Gracelawn Cemetery. To watch the service please click the following link https://www.youtube.com/hendersonhills

10 thoughts on “Judy G. Harden”

  1. MIKE MUNDAY / MIKE HARLAND

    MRS HARDEN WAS A GREAT EDMOND SCHOOL TEACHER – TOUGH BUT FAIR!
    SHE WAS LOVED AND RESPECTED BY THE STUDENTS.
    GOD BLESS HER!!!

  2. Karen Attebery

    Judy was indeed first and foremost so proud of her family and everyone one knew it. A very loving woman. We love you Matt , Sarah and family

  3. Shelia (Cromwell) Wiseman

    Mrs. Harden was my Typing Teacher in 1984-85. She was strict, but such a good teacher, that I still use the skills she taught me to this day. I often think about her and remember, “ASDF JKL.” Thank you, Mrs. Harden, for being you. RIP.

  4. Wright Carolyn

    Judy was a fine lady, wife, mother, teacher and friend. She has the respect of her many colleagues and friends. She will be greatly missed. Carolyn Duncan Wright

  5. So sorry to hear about Mrs. Harden! I’m so glad I ran into Judy at a swim meet this summer! She was just like I remembered her, always smiling and happy to see you! ❤️ She was very cheerful and happy to be at the pool cheering on Lilian! We had a great conversation about our families! She loved hers dearly! So sorry for your loss Matt, Sarah, Lillian and Wyatt! She is so proud of you all! You are in our thoughts and prayers!🙏🏻

  6. Mrs. Harden was a special person in my life—shepherding me as I left being one of her students and became an EPS teacher. She was always encouraging and positive and straightforward. I think of her often when I sit at any keyboard and think of the many “timed typing tests”. Loved her school spirit and love of students. Prayers to the family.

  7. Gena Mahaffey Menhusen

    Mrs. Harden was strict but caring! I had her as one of the Pep Club sponsors. She had pride in being a Bulldog!!
    Rest In Peace Mrs. Harden💟

  8. Linda Stansberry Bobo

    I am a 1967 Bulldog grad. Mrs. Harden was my typing teacher and to this day, I am grateful for that skill. As a retired high school English teacher who was involved in sponsoring many things throughout my 27 years, I can now appreciate all the extra hours she gave to the Pep Club, etc. I remember her fondly.

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