Judy Paulette Hager was born December1, 1949 to Roy and Mabel Baptista at Emanuel Hospital. She grew up on a dairy with her parents, north of town on Zeering road. She attended school in the Keyes Unified School District and played saxophone in the Turlock Junior Band. She went to high school at Turlock High and was an active student. Judy’s senior year she was elected to office of Social Commissioner and a member of the Executive Student Counsel as well as participating in numerous clubs: A.E.S., C.S.F., Future Teachers, Rally Committee, and Commercial Club. She attended Modesto J.C. for two years studying child development.
On November 28, 1969 Judy married her high school sweetheart, Ben Hager, after his return from Vietnam. They spent a short time in Kentucky near Fort Knox before locating to Modesto for several years where Judy worked as an accountant for Kelly Moore Paint. In 1979, they moved back to Turlock in time for the birth of her daughter, Heather Renee in March. She worked another five years for KM until the birth of her son, Matthew Benjamin, in May of 1984.
Judy was blessed with five grandchildren: Serenity, Landen, Parker, Paisley, and Sadie Brandow. She loved them with all her heart and they miss her already with all of theirs.
She was very active in her children’s education and was a member of the P.T.C. of Chatom/Mt. View School District where she also served on the School Board from 1989-1993. Judy was a huge supporter of Mt. View 4-H and of Turlock F.F.A. and was awarded an Honorary FFA Chapter Degree. She will be greatly missed.
Judy was preceded in death by her sons Rory and Joshua Hager, her father, Roy V. Baptista, father-in-law E.E. (Al) Hager in 1989, her mother Mabel I. Baptista, and mother-in-law, Oneta B. Hager. She is survived by her husband Ben E. Hager of Turlock, her brother Mike Baptista of Hughson, her daughter Heather Renee Brandow husband Douglas and their five children of Fresno, and her son Matthew B. Hager of Bakersfield.
Judy had some major surgeries and illnesses over the past 15 years but her latest bout took its toll on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 10:40 a.m. She was home with her husband, daughter, and son as she left this world.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., in Turlock. The funeral service will follow on Thursday, August 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers please send remembrances to the Roy and Mabel Baptista F.F.A. Scholarship Award in care of Turlock High School, 1574 E. Canal Dr., Turlock, CA 95380, or to Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356
