On Friday, August 26, 2022, Heaven welcomed home an angel that had walked among us for 75 years. Judy Ann Stanley was born March 8, 1947 in Hartville, Missouri to Eugene Warren "Bud" Stanley and Hannah Frances (Buttram). One of eleven children, Judy came to be known as an unselfish nurturer. It was likely her never-ending willingness to comfort and love unconditionally that drew others to her.

As a young lady, she was crowned the Butter Day Queen of her hometown in 1965. And as she set off to see the world, she became a showroom fashion model and a legendary hostess during the golden age of Braniff Airlines. It is in that role that she met her first husband Earl Ray Craighead. They married on June 14, 1970 and welcomed their daughter, Jennifer a year later. And although she loved her role with Braniff, her true reason for being was Jennifer, whom she called her "Sunshine," and to whom she became a best friend.

While caring for her family, Judy worked in accounting, real estate and volunteered with the Women's Forum. However, she found her true vocational calling when she returned to school and earned a Masters degree in English from Midwestern State University. She later became a professor of English Literature. She was also an accomplished painter, seamstress and crochetier. And although she would become embarrassed when someone would laud her accomplishments, she did these things with a quiet, kind grace. In fact, many people never even knew that she earned a pilot's license in her younger days because she wasn't the kind of person to talk about herself. Judy always preferred to listen and learn about you.

If you knew Judy, you knew that animals filled her heart with so much joy. She loved all of God's creatures, from the one-legged red bird who would visit her porch every morning to the squirrel who would lay above her in the branch while she gardened. She could even tame them enough to eat from the palm of her hand. She would take in any animal that needed a home, but there was a special place in her heart for her rescue pups, Chewy and Mr Lucky.

Most people's first impression of Judy was that she was graceful and stylish, regal but completely disarming and approachable. Her smile instantly made everyone feel welcomed. Her striking blue eyes had come to be set off by her silver hair and porcelain skin, which gave her an etherial glow. In our time of grief, people have talked about Judy as being a truly kind and gentle soul. All of that comes as no surprise to those of us who knew her well. She lived to emulate Jesus and share His promise of peace in a way that inspired those around her to do the same. We've known her as an angel.

Judy is survived by her beloved husband, Danny Gene Craighead, daughter, Jennifer Craighead Needham and grandchildren Earl John Willing Needham and Hannah Grace Needham. She also leaves two sisters, Susie Lansdown of Hartville, Missouri and  Faye Anderson of Utah, and brothers Gene Stanley of Conway, Missouri and Leon Stanley of Seymour, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by Husband of 50 years, Earl Ray Craighead, three brothers, William, Warren, and David Stanley, and also by three sisters Louise Wiseman, June Ray, and Evelyn Delcour-McClanahan.

There will be a private graveside ceremony on Monday, August 29, 2022, followed by burial at Electra Memorial Cemetery in Electra, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Humane Society of Wichita County.