In Memory Of
Judy L. Herget
Judy L. Herget
Judy L. Herget
January 20, 1920 – June 15, 2011
On a frozen January morning in 1920, in the secluded Ozarkian hamlet known as Lee Ann, Mo., a woman struggled to give birth, as her husband rode frantically on horseback to summon the doctor in a nearby town. The doctor did arrive, but not in time to assist in the birth, and the young mother-to-be delivered her child alone. They named her Jewel Eileen Lasiter, and she was to be their only child.
Jewel's father was a tenant farmer and dairyman at the time, and they were desperately poor, even a decade before the Depression began. Side by side with her husband, her mother toiled all day long on the farm, and she continued into the evening in the humble little house they shared. Jewel, too, had many chores, which included helping to milk the cows every morning and evening.
At some point Jewel became Judy, a nickname bestowed by a childhood friend that remained with her permanently. She was a shy child, quiet and obedient, and began at age four to accompany the older children on their daily walks to the schoolhouse nearly two miles away. She was too introverted to reply when the teacher called upon her, but she listened, and she absorbed everything, consistently earning high marks. By the time she had completed the eighth grade, she was only 11 years old.
Judy desperately wanted to attend high school, but the nearest one was 12 miles away in Aurora. However, the family had no car, and in those days, there was no bus service. Money was very scarce, but she managed to obtain work in the home of the Superintendent of Schools in Aurora, working as a live-in domestic for her room and board, and helping his wife care for their infant child. On cold winter nights when the furnace had run out of coal, it was she whom they called on to get dressed, go outdoors and carry in more fuel. It was a taxing job for a 12-year-old, but she was determined to complete high school. She became an honor student and played the base drum in the school's marching band, toiling until late at night to complete her homework assignments—but only after she had completed all of the tasks assigned by her employers.
Judy graduated with honors from Aurora High School with the Class of 1936. She was 15 years old. Because of her scholastic achievements, she was offered an extraordinary opportunity: a scholarship to Cottey College, a private, two-year, all-women's college in Nevada, Mo. All expenses would be financed, and following graduation, assistance would be provided in obtaining employment, at which point the graduate would begin repaying the loan. Judy raced home with the paperwork, which required the signature of a parent; but her mother refused to sign, believing it was wrong to incur such a debt. Her dream crumpled, Judy instead went to work in the local shoe factory.
In 1939, Judy's favorite aunt and uncle invited her to come and live with them in McAllen, Tex. Their daughter Maris was about Judy's age, and the two young cousins were very close friends. Judy soon found work as a telephone switchboard operator, and in early 1940, she met a handsome and engaging young man named Jack Herget, who so dazzled her that they were married within six months. In 1941 they welcomed a daughter, Joyce, who also was to be an only child.
In 1944, during World War II, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the Naval Training Station San Diego. Within a few months, Judy and Joyce joined him, and Judy, who was by now a crackerjack secretary typing 98 words per minute with no errors and taking sustained dictation at 360 words per minute, had no problem landing a job with the Navy Labor Board. They lived a somewhat Spartan life in their sparsely furnished little apartment, but the three were happy to be together again and seemed not to notice.
Jack was discharged from the Navy in 1946, and the couple moved back to Harlingen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Southern Texas, along the Mexican border. Judy went to work for an insurance agency, and Jack became a sheet metal pattern draftsman.
By 1953, the couple decided it was time to set out on a new adventure. They left Texas and simply drove northward, looking for a new home, and along the way decided to check out Colorado Springs. By the time they reached the statue of General Palmer at the intersection of North Nevada and Platte Avenues, they knew they had found the right spot. They quickly rented an apartment, drove to Missouri to retrieve Joyce, who had been spending part of the summer with her grandparents, and began to set roots in this beautiful little city at the foot of Pikes Peak.
Jack found work in his own field, and Judy went to work for Colorado Interstate Gas Co., as secretary to one of the vice presidents, eventually becoming a Gas Supply Specialist. She retired from the company in 1983, with 30 years' service. Along the way, Judy and Jack became avid skiers and in the summers took many camping and fishing trips. They joined Ports of Call and took more than a dozen cruises, to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Alaska, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and down the Amazon River. Last November, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Judy, who became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs over 57 years ago, was a member of the choir for five years and often volunteered by assisting the church staff. She also served five years on the Board of Directors of The Ark, a local facility which was devoted to assistance and support for recovering alcoholics.
Judy was preceded in death by Jack, who died just six weeks earlier, on May 6. She is survived by daughter Joyce (Marvin) Hersh of Highlands Ranch; granddaughter Garen (Thomas) Hughes-Garcia; and great-grandchildren Miranda Carey and Paul Garcia. Judy has been buried with Jack at the Fort Logan National Cemetery, where they have begun a new life together. May they rest in peace.
Memorial Service:
Friday, June 24, 11:00 a.m., Lehmberg Chapel, First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs
420 North Nevada Ave., 80903
January 20, 1920 – June 15, 2011
On a frozen January morning in 1920, in the secluded Ozarkian hamlet known as Lee Ann, Mo., a woman struggled to give birth, as her husband rode frantically on horseback to summon the doctor in a nearby town. The doctor did arrive, but not in time to assist in the birth, and the young mother-to-be delivered her child alone. They named her Jewel Eileen Lasiter, and she was to be their only child.
Jewel's father was a tenant farmer and dairyman at the time, and they were desperately poor, even a decade before the Depression began. Side by side with her husband, her mother toiled all day long on the farm, and she continued into the evening in the humble little house they shared. Jewel, too, had many chores, which included helping to milk the cows every morning and evening.
At some point Jewel became Judy, a nickname bestowed by a childhood friend that remained with her permanently. She was a shy child, quiet and obedient, and began at age four to accompany the older children on their daily walks to the schoolhouse nearly two miles away. She was too introverted to reply when the teacher called upon her, but she listened, and she absorbed everything, consistently earning high marks. By the time she had completed the eighth grade, she was only 11 years old.
Judy desperately wanted to attend high school, but the nearest one was 12 miles away in Aurora. However, the family had no car, and in those days, there was no bus service. Money was very scarce, but she managed to obtain work in the home of the Superintendent of Schools in Aurora, working as a live-in domestic for her room and board, and helping his wife care for their infant child. On cold winter nights when the furnace had run out of coal, it was she whom they called on to get dressed, go outdoors and carry in more fuel. It was a taxing job for a 12-year-old, but she was determined to complete high school. She became an honor student and played the base drum in the school's marching band, toiling until late at night to complete her homework assignments—but only after she had completed all of the tasks assigned by her employers.
Judy graduated with honors from Aurora High School with the Class of 1936. She was 15 years old. Because of her scholastic achievements, she was offered an extraordinary opportunity: a scholarship to Cottey College, a private, two-year, all-women's college in Nevada, Mo. All expenses would be financed, and following graduation, assistance would be provided in obtaining employment, at which point the graduate would begin repaying the loan. Judy raced home with the paperwork, which required the signature of a parent; but her mother refused to sign, believing it was wrong to incur such a debt. Her dream crumpled, Judy instead went to work in the local shoe factory.
In 1939, Judy's favorite aunt and uncle invited her to come and live with them in McAllen, Tex. Their daughter Maris was about Judy's age, and the two young cousins were very close friends. Judy soon found work as a telephone switchboard operator, and in early 1940, she met a handsome and engaging young man named Jack Herget, who so dazzled her that they were married within six months. In 1941 they welcomed a daughter, Joyce, who also was to be an only child.
In 1944, during World War II, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the Naval Training Station San Diego. Within a few months, Judy and Joyce joined him, and Judy, who was by now a crackerjack secretary typing 98 words per minute with no errors and taking sustained dictation at 360 words per minute, had no problem landing a job with the Navy Labor Board. They lived a somewhat Spartan life in their sparsely furnished little apartment, but the three were happy to be together again and seemed not to notice.
Jack was discharged from the Navy in 1946, and the couple moved back to Harlingen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Southern Texas, along the Mexican border. Judy went to work for an insurance agency, and Jack became a sheet metal pattern draftsman.
By 1953, the couple decided it was time to set out on a new adventure. They left Texas and simply drove northward, looking for a new home, and along the way decided to check out Colorado Springs. By the time they reached the statue of General Palmer at the intersection of North Nevada and Platte Avenues, they knew they had found the right spot. They quickly rented an apartment, drove to Missouri to retrieve Joyce, who had been spending part of the summer with her grandparents, and began to set roots in this beautiful little city at the foot of Pikes Peak.
Jack found work in his own field, and Judy went to work for Colorado Interstate Gas Co., as secretary to one of the vice presidents, eventually becoming a Gas Supply Specialist. She retired from the company in 1983, with 30 years' service. Along the way, Judy and Jack became avid skiers and in the summers took many camping and fishing trips. They joined Ports of Call and took more than a dozen cruises, to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Alaska, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and down the Amazon River. Last November, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Judy, who became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs over 57 years ago, was a member of the choir for five years and often volunteered by assisting the church staff. She also served five years on the Board of Directors of The Ark, a local facility which was devoted to assistance and support for recovering alcoholics.
Judy was preceded in death by Jack, who died just six weeks earlier, on May 6. She is survived by daughter Joyce (Marvin) Hersh of Highlands Ranch; granddaughter Garen (Thomas) Hughes-Garcia; and great-grandchildren Miranda Carey and Paul Garcia. Judy has been buried with Jack at the Fort Logan National Cemetery, where they have begun a new life together. May they rest in peace.
Memorial Service:
Friday, June 24, 11:00 a.m., Lehmberg Chapel, First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs
420 North Nevada Ave., 80903
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Judy L. Herget, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, June 20, 2011
6:30 - 8:00 pm (Mountain time)
Newcomer - East Metro Chapel
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