Judy Carroll Shealy Kucewesky, 69, of Troutman, N.C., passed away peacefully surrounding by her family on May 18, 2024.

Those left to cherish her memories are her children, Amanda Blake-Hughes Kucewesky Huntsinger and her husband Anthony, Justin Riley Kucewesky and his wife Monica, and Jennifer Kucewesky Stoner; and her grandchildren, Jonathan, Bryson, Alex, Alyssa, Brayden, Sam, and Doc, all of the Troutman/Mooresville area. Judy is also survived by her sister, Dianne Shealy Chapman Armistead, of Columbia, S.C.; niece, Lindsay Dianne Chapman of Georgia; and, nephews Daniel Billy Chapman and his wife Lynda, Ashton Blake Chapman and his wife Carly, and Cameron Blair Armistead and his wife Hannah, all of the Columbia, S.C.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Donald Riley Kucewesky. Judy was predeceased by her brother, Edward Eugene Shealy, and an infant sister, Mary Ann Shealy.

Judy was born in Columbia, S.C., on June 26, 1954, to the late Evelyn June Hughes Shealy and the late Bill Carroll Shealy. She had a real passion for life; she was the most gentle and compassionate person you would have ever met. More than anything, Judy enjoyed being with her family and cooking large meals for them. She enjoyed crafts, hand-making personal gifts and taking photographs of her family. The walls and tables throughout her home are a testament to that love with photographs of generations of family members. Judy loved Lake Norman and sitting outside in the evenings at her home at Shady Cove with a cup of coffee on a porch swing she affectionally referred to a “Daddy’s Swing,” a swing she purchased shortly after the death of her father. She loved listening to the night sounds of passing boats, the beautiful wind chimes on her porch, and the laughter of neighbors enjoying the beautiful spring evenings on the lake. On most any weekend evening the sound of the old-style country music and 70’s music can be heard throughout her home. Judy loved animals; she kept plenty of food on hand to feed the birds, deer, and squirrels around her home. During summers, many memories were made playing around the backyard pool with her husband, children, grandchildren, mother, siblings, niece, nephews, and many friends. The summer afternoon and evening air literally pulsated with laughter surrounding the pool and the sounds of a happy family and life. Judy loved children and she loved caring for them. She was proud of the many certifications she was awarded by Mitchell College and could at any time recite to anyone at any time the standard of child care guidelines for North Carolina. She took her career very seriously. She worked many years at Barium Springs Child Development Center until its closing several years ago. She later worked in the infant room at The Lemonade Stand Preschool & Child Care in Statesville until her recent medical retirement. Throughout her career she was known as “Miss Judy.” During one of her outpatient procedures, a gentleman came up to her in the waiting room addressing her as “Miss Judy” and telling her how happy he was to see her and how much his children loved her. Miss Judy’s face lit up with pride and happiness to meet this young father again. This simple and short interaction was all anyone would need to witness to know her love for and devotion to this profession and the children and how much the children and parents loved her. During her young years, Judy was a member of the GA’s in her Sunday School class and, as a teenager, she was a member of the Rainbow Girls. Her interest in the Rainbow Girls stemmed from her mother being a life-long member of the Order of the Eastern Star who later became Worthy Matron of her Fort Jackson Chapter. Judy’s grandmother, Carrie White Hughes, was also a member of the Eastern Star, and her grandfather, William Clay Hughes, was a Fraternal Order of Freemasonry. Judy was overcome with pride when this legacy continued when her son, Justin, became a Mason and a Shriner of the Mooresville Chapter.

A service will be held at 6pm on Thursday, May 23, 2024, with receiving of friends and family afterwards at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home 494 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville, N.C.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Kucewesky family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.