Judith Harshbarger

Judith Lynn Harshbarger of Celina, Texas, (formerly of Tyler, Texas) passed away on November 18, 2023. She was born on June 10, 1953, in Victoria, Texas to Keith Harshbarger and Judy (Puckett) Harshbarger. She died peacefully from complications of pneumonia after developing dementia secondary to a brain tumor found in 2001.

Judith (Judy or Cissy) was a very intelligent, caring, and selfless person who loved her family and friends and gave greatly of her time to serve others when she was able, especially the children she taught for 27 years. Of course, if you knew her really well, you would know she could also be very stubborn and just a little bitchy, to put it nicely. She had an off-the-wall sense of humor that you either loved – or not, but she was “real” for sure.

After attending Crosby High School from her freshman year through her junior year, her family moved to Fort Worth, and she finished high school at Lake Worth High School. Both of her parents were teachers and she followed in the family's footsteps by pursuing a career in teaching, but as was normal for her, she took it a few steps further.

She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Texas in Arlington and Texas Woman’s University and attained her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, graduating Cum Laude, in December, 1975. She went on to attain her Masters in Special Education with certification in Language and Learning Disabilities and Emotionally Disturbed from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas in May, 1978.

She was passionate about her work as an educator. She supported herself while attending college by working sometimes 2 jobs, including at the Dallas Society for Crippled Children, The Fairhill School and the Fort Worth Child Study Center. She taught all levels of behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children as well as children with learning disabilities in the Kansas City Public Schools and Western Missouri Mental Health Center, and many schools in Texas, and retiring from Hubbard Middle School in 2001 for health reasons.

She was adventurous and always ready to try some new activity which leads to a few fun stories and many wonderful memories for those of us who were able to share those times with her. She loved her dogs and traveling and was a loving and loyal daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Cissy was preceded in death by her parents, Keith and Judy Harshbarger; brother, Grant Harshbarger; and nephew, Weston Harshbarger.

She leaves behind her sister, Amy (Harshbarger) Jones and husband, Steve Jones; brother, Tim Harshbarger and wife, Diane (Anderson) Harshbarger; niece, Jenee Harshbarger; nephew, Seth Jones and wife Brianna; niece, Leah (Jones) Garrett and husband Travis; great-nephews, Harvey Jones and Holden Garrett, along with 2 aunts and many cousins.