Obituary of Judith Kleckley

Judith Shuler Kleckley LEXINGTON: Judith Katherine Shuler Kleckley, 84, of Lexington, went on to her heavenly home Tuesday, June 7th after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. Born on April 2nd, 1927 in Providence, SC to the late Ashton Avon Shuler Sr. and the late Lillian Evans Shuler, she was a 1944 graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School and went on to graduate from the USC School of Nursing. Judy was a registered nurse at the Columbia Hospital and worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for twenty years, retiring in 1988. Judy married the love of her life James Wade Kleckley, Sr. on Nov. 26th, 1948 and together they had three children and five grandchildren. A life-time resident of Lexington County, she was involved in the American Legion Women's Auxiliary, Lexington County FCA Adult Chapter, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Retiree Group, and was an active member of Brookland United Methodist Church for over fifty years. Judy was an avid reader who enjoyed gardening, cooking, and watching baseball. Her greatest joy was watching her family grow and holding hands with her husband. Judy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Howard Shuler, Owen Shuler, Lin Shuler, and her beloved husband of 62 years, Jim Kleckley. Judy is survived by her children: James Wade Kleckley (Patt) of Lexington, Bryan Stephan Kleckley (Becky) of Swansea and Rhonda Kleckley Gilliam (Jim) of Taylors, SC; grandchildren: Adrianna Kleckley, Reuben Kleckley, and Stephanie Kleckley; Jay Gilliam (Bekah), and Luke Gilliam. Judy is also survived by brothers Beaufort Shuler, A.A. "Bo" Shuler, Jr., Danny Shuler; sisters Eva Lee Williams, Linda Jacobs, Cherry Blanton, sisters-in-law Winnie Shuler, Ruth Hoover (Ray) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p. m. Friday, June, 10, 2011, at Thompson's Funeral Home in West Columbia and the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Brookland UMC with burial following at Southland Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Bennie Gable, Rick Coward, David Dodge, Lee Hoover, Craig Houston, Stacy Shuler, and Brian Thornton. Honorary pallbearers will include the Brookland UMC Young At Heart, Loyal Workers Sunday School Class, members of the Lexington FCA Adult Chapter, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Retiree Group. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia will be assisting the family. The family would like to sincerely thank the loving staff of Agape Lexington and Agape Hospice who cared for our "Judy Bug" during her journey home. Memorials can be made to the Brookland UMC Building Fund, 541 Meeting St, West Columbia, SC 29169 and to the Midlands Special Needs Foundation, 109-A Vista Oaks Dr, Lexington SC 29072. Please sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com