Judith Gay Smitley

Judith Gay  Smitley , 83, of Susquehanna Township, was called home and surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday morning, August 7th, 2024.

She was the daughter of Kathryn Serfas Hinnerschietz and Carl Messinger, both deceased from the Lehigh Valley.

Judy worked for the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging. She also worked for the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency when she retired to be a homemaker. She excelled in her full time Christian Ministry by doing appearances in local churches for the Women of the Bible, and was actively involved with the PA Prison Society. 

Judy was a graduate of Wilson Area High School in Easton, Pennsylvania, class of 1958. She got her undergraduate degree from Elizabethtown College and her masters degree from Pennsylvania State University. 

Judy is survived by her loving husband, Reuben M. Smitley of 50 years. She is also survived by her five children; Kimberly Bankert (Dennis) of Harrisburg, Jeffery Tinsman (Liz) of Wormleysburg, Melaney Powell (Doug) of Sewell , New Jersey, Tiffany Marrazzo (Steve) of Wormleysburg and Nataley Williams (Marty) of Harrisburg. She also had two step-children; Michael Smitley (Joyce) of Washington State and MaryAnn Durain (John) of Carlisle. Judy is survived by 7 grandchildren; Ashley, Adam, Ariel, Joshua, Jonah, Grayson, and Jackson.  She also has 14 great-grandchildren.

At her request, her final wish was for her body to be donated to research at Penn State Health, Hershey Medical Center. Her family will be having a private celebration of life to remember their beloved Mother.