Judith Kay Artis

Judith Kay Artis, 79, of Columbus, passed away at 4:07 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Columbus Regional Hospital. Judy was born in Columbus, IN on August 15, 1944, to Ernest P. Purdue and Helen E. Smith Purdue. She married the love of her life, Lloyd L. Artis on August 1, 1964. Lloyd and Judy would’ve been married for 60 years this August 2024! Judy walked this earthly journey for nearly eighty blessed years. She held many jobs over her lifetime, but at her core she was a homemaker, staying home with a school-aged Katrina as her husband Lloyd worked at Cummins as a toolmaker by day. She fulfilled this high calling with grace and unwavering commitment, creating a warm and loving home that was a sanctuary to all who entered. In her later years, Judy served the Lord and her community with dedication at the First Church of the Nazarene, where she offered her vocal, audiovisual, and administrative talents as a testament to her meticulous nature and generous spirit. Judy was a pillar of strength and support, not just within the walls of her home but in her broader family of faith. Her service extended to the Indiana Gospel Music Association in her later years, where she took on the vital roles of secretary and treasurer, ensuring that the sweet sounds of Southern Gospel music would continue to inspire, uplift, and lead countless souls to the Lord for many years to come. Judy's love for singing Southern Gospel and worship music was a reflection of her deep and abiding faith. Her voice was truly a vessel of the Lord's peace. Out of their love for the Lord, she and Lloyd started a traveling Southern Gospel music group called The Singing Evangels in the 1970s, traveling across the entire United States spreading the Gospel through song and impacting the lives of many people, even recording a few albums of their own music! While the overall lineup of the group changed over the years (including their grandson, Lance, singing with them for over 10 years), Judy and Lloyd’s dedication to the ministry never wavered, nor did their faith in God. They continued traveling and singing consistently from the 1970s through 2022 when both Lloyd and Judy started experiencing health complications that would limit their ability to travel as before. Their vibrant musical legacy lives on through Katrina, who currently sings on a worship team in Seymour, and through their three grandsons, Lance, Kaleb, and Kohl, who each have vocal and instrumental talents of their own. Judy was a longtime devoted member of Columbus First Church of the Nazarene and attended Columbus Bible Methodist Church in her final years, where she praised His name with every note and shared wisdom with all who would hear. Above all, Judy's heart belonged to her family. She cherished every moment spent with her loved ones, her love for them having a depth beyond measure. Judy loved big and without condition, exemplifying her Savior’s heart in that love - her family was her joy! That glorious love that filled her has impacted her grandsons and their wives, especially. A Mammaw to all, she loved and accepted her grandsons’ wives, Courtney and Zoie, into her family without hesitation or question (even before marriage), treating them as if they had always been there from the start - the girls were her granddaughters as much as the boys were her grandsons. Her prayers and presence were a comforting embrace and balm to the weary in sorrow, her jubilance and bright smile bringing extra joy to a celebration, and her Biblical guidance a light unto the path of righteousness for her loved ones. We commend our beloved Judy to the Almighty's loving arms, knowing that she will watch over us until we are reunited once more. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her spirit, through the Holy Spirit, continue to guide us in the ways of love and compassion toward others and ourselves. We love you Judy, Mom, and Mammaw, and look forward to singing with you again in Heaven with the great angel choir - we know you’re singing with us right now! A Celebration of Judy’s life will be held on at 7:00 p.m. on August 16, 2024 at Columbus Bible Methodist Chruch. Inurnment will be held at Springer Cemetery, Elizabethtown, IN at a later date, as well. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the IGMA (Indiana Gospel Music Association) through the funeral home. Survivors include her husband, Lloyd L. Artis; daughter, Katrina L. (Kevin) Coryell of Seymour, IN; grandchildren, Lance Klaytan (Courtney) Short of Franklin, IN, Kaleb Coryell of Bloomington, IN and Kohl (Zoie) Coryell of Indianapolis, IN. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest P. and Helen E. Purdue; and a brother, William “Don” Purdue. Arrangements were entrusted to Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.