Judy Kay Hall

Judy Kay Hall selflessly dedicated her life to the wellbeing of her family, friends, church, and employers. Her life embodied Christ’s example of agape. She was a guileless and loyal friend who advocated for the underdog, the vulnerable, and those in need. Judy often gave to members of her local community who were in need without their knowledge. She lived by the motto, “Let Jesus take care of it,” and looked forward to her eternal life with her savior Jesus Christ. Her greatest gifts to her family and friends were her exemplary Christian faith, selfless love, the joy of life, the love of music, and a work ethic second to none.

Born 27 October 1948 to Kathryn (née Hesse) and Melvin Kiefer, Judy spent her formative years in Great Bend, Kansas where she attended grade school, middle school, and her first three years of high school. She played third base for the high school softball team. She attended the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Great Bend where she began her Christian journey and life with Christ. Her father bought a blond Mason Hamlin piano so that Judy could learn and play for her local church.

Before her final year of high school, in 1965, her family moved to Hermiston, Oregon. She graduated from Hermiston High School and attended Eastern Oregon State College for three and a half years, September 1966 to March 1970. At EOSC, she met her life-long friend June Tremain. And she met her husband of 57 years, Warren Hall, in a dance class at EOSC. Judy and Warren eloped and were married by a Lutheran pastor in Winnemucca, Neveda, 13 April 1969. Judy left EOSC to begin a family. And with the help of her father, Melvin Kiefer, Judy and Warren built their home and raised their two boys (Mel and Kurt) on a small farm. Judy was a dedicated caregiver to her father for eight years and to her mother for twenty years. Judy had great respect, love, and admiration for her father.

Judy devoted her musical talent to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Hermiston. She played the organ at services for over fifty years. She directed the church choir, and produced two musicals. She helped found the church’s preschool and kindergarten and served as the church treasurer. Judy spearheaded the Church’s fair booth to help raise money to fund the church’s preschool. And she and a colleague, Craig Lockwood, made stain glass windows for the church. Her life was truly devoted to the service of her church and Christ her savior.

Judy returned to Eastern Oregon University and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies on 13 December 1997. Among her favorite classes was her geology class in which she toured the Pacific Northwest with Warren documenting the Northwest’s panoply of geological features. Judy enjoyed watching baseball, travelling, musicals, concerts, the Oregon coast, and dancing. Judy even took flying lessons when she was a senior in high school.

On 30 July 2026, the Lord took Judy after seven years of living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s may have conquered her body and her ability to speak, but it never conquered nor altered her moral being. Despite the pain, fear, and loneliness of living with Alzheimer’s, Judy continued to express love and devotion to those around her. Until her final days, she gave loving affection to her fellow sufferers as well as the nurses and aides who took care of her – touching their hearts with gentle kisses of thanks as well as raised eyebrows and wide eyes of sparkling joy.

Judy is survived by and her memory hidden in the hearts of her husband, Warren Hall; sons, Melvin and Kurt; daughter-in-law, Lisa; granddaughter, Kathryn; grandson, Dennis; life-long friend and adopted sister, June Tremain; and the many nurses and aides she grew close to at Indigo.

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