Judy Lockhart DiGregorio

Judy Lockhart DiGregorio

Judy was born on June 27, 1942, at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas and passed on December 5, 2024, in the presence of family members at her home in Oak Ridge, TN. 

Judy was the daughter of Lester Leland Lockhart and Lorine Vordenbaum. Judy was the second of five children – Charles, Judy, Mary, Walter, and Lester.

Her 82 years were jam-packed. Since she was the daughter of a career Army father, the family moved around a lot. Numerous elementary and four different high schools. These experiences formed her outgoing personality.

She met her husband (Dan) at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. They were lab partners in a mammalian anatomy class.

During her time at Highlands, Judy was in every singing group, played on the basketball team, ran track, and was on the swim team, where she earned the nickname of “Shark.” Judy was also a singer and dancer in several school musicals.

Judy and Dan were married in 1963. After their university experience, Judy and Dan moved to Utah for Dan’s first job. After one year, she and Dan moved to Ft. McClellan, Alabama for his first assignment with the U.S, Army. While there, she taught first grade for two years. Dan’s next assignment took them to Ft. Bragg, N.C. There they adopted their son, Chuck. In 1969, they moved to Oak Ridge, TN., where they adopted their daughter, Candie.

In Oak Ridge, Judy worked for the Department of Energy. She was also involved with many church and community activities. From 1969 until recently, Judy sang with the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church choir. She had also sung with the Oak Ridge Chorus, with the Knoxville Opera Company, and was active in many plays and publicity functions with the Oak Ridge Playhouse.

A bit before she retired from the DOE, she began to dabble seriously into writing humor stories, where she became quite successful. She has written numerous articles for many publications: national, regional and local (including The Oak Ridger and Anderson County Visions). She also published three books and a CD of her humor stories.

Recently, Judy was branching out into songwriting. She wrote “Washing Dishes With Mama” – a tribute to her mother. You can hear this song and see a more complete list of her many publications and awards at judyjabber.com.

Judy received many awards and honors including one in October 7, 2011, where she was named Distinguished Alumni, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Judy was preceded in death by her father and mother and older brother, Charles. She leaves behind her husband (Dan), son Chuck (Michelle), daughter Candie, three grandchildren (Tailen, Damien, and Danielle), two great-grandchildren (Oaklyn and Everlee), sister-in-law Polly (wife of Charles), sister Mary (Chris), brother Walter (Mary), and brother Lester (Gracie), and several nieces and nephews.

Judy loved this community of Oak Ridge, TN., and all of her family and friends. 

On many different occasions, Judy told her husband Dan, the author of this obituary, “I want to be remembered as a woman of small talents and big feet.” Half of that is true, the big feet part. Her talents were many.

Many thanks to Amedisys hospice and Amedisys home health. Special thanks to Leslie Williamson, RN and Ryn Rowlett, Speech Therapist. And to the Hospice caregivers: Danielle Rickert, RN and Ann Marie Guiliano, CNA.

Special thanks also to her church buddies and friends: Nancy Anderson, Cathy Whitten, and Simon Ballintoy.

Services will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 212 N. Tulane Ave., in Oak Ridge, TN on December 19, 2024, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Memo line: Outreach or Music). 

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home & Cremations is assisting the DiGregorio family. WWW.MOTTMCKAMEYFH.COM