A Legacy of Love

Judith (Judy) Anne passed away peacefully with family on July 3, 2024, at 78, after courageously battling Alzheimer’s Dementia and a broken hip.

Judy was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Billings in Ft. Worth, Texas on January 12, 1946. 

When she was 12, she moved to Southern California with her family. 

From a young age, she cared for others, including her younger sisters, Betty and Susan. 

Judy was popular and made friends easily. She was the homecoming princess at Granite Hills High, graduating with honors. 

In 1964, she married Phil Rummery whom she met and dated in high school.

Judy worked for San Diego Trust & Savings Bank from 1964 to 1991. Her warm interpersonal nature and leadership skills advanced her and she was promoted to run the president’s office. She made a positive impact as the Executive Office Administrator and built lasting friendships.

After retiring from banking, Judy and Phil moved to Prescott, Arizona where they made many new friends. She stayed busy volunteering for Hospice and a local elementary school, helping students learn to read. She was patient, gentle, and kind.

In 1998, the couple moved to Loveland, Colorado. A few years later, John (Judy's oldest) moved to a nearby town and welcomed his first child, Johnny in 2002. Judy was ecstatic and spent lots of time babysitting her first grandchild. Nothing made her happier than family, especially babies and kids, and she was truly blessed with a gift for caring for others.

Once again, Judy volunteered to work with kids struggling with reading at a Loveland elementary school. The teachers adored and appreciated her, and the kids liked her. She was an unofficial “Nana” to all kids.

After her first attempt at "retirement," she earned her real estate license in 1999. She succeeded in that role for numerous reasons; mainly for her gift of authentically connecting with people on a deeper level.

After Phil’s sudden and unexpected passing in 2005, she continued selling homes until relocating to Durango to be near Jen (her youngest) and her growing family in 2009. At that time her granddaughter Hailey was 2 and they were expecting Kendall, born later that year.

Judy spent copious time with her granddaughters and was active in their lives. She picked them up from school and took them to activities several days a week. Hailey and Kendall loved their time with Nana and they had frequent sleepovers at the home Judy shared with her partner, Julian Gallegos, whom she met on a blind date in 2010.

Judy and Julian led an active life, walking daily and hosting guests and dinner parties. They enjoyed their timeshares in Escondido and Sedona and traveling to Homer, Alaska to visit John and his growing family. In 2017, they welcomed Sienna Lynn, the youngest member of the family and Judy’s fourth grandchild.

Judy loved watching the sun go down and found beauty in everything, even the mundane and ordinary – mainly, in the natural world. She loved digging in the dirt and growing things, especially flowers. She had rose and gardenia bushes and lovingly tended to them. She would cut them and lovingly place them around the house so it smelled nice. She also had a soft spot for animals and enjoyed throwing the ball for her dog, Shelby.

Judy was successful in her careers, but that wasn't how she defined "success" or fulfillment. Her biggest triumph and lasting legacy is as a loving mother, Nana, wife, sister, and friend.

Judy is survived by her son John, daughter Jennifer, grandson Johnny, granddaughters Hailey, Kendall, and Sienna; her partner and friend Julian Gallegos; and her sisters Betty Billings and Susan Fisher and their families. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Phil Rummery; James Billings, her older brother; and her granddaughter Hayden Simon.

A Celebration For Life will take place in Judy’s honor on Saturday, January 11 at 4 pm at Magee Park in Carlsbad. 

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