Donald Clay Judd

Donald Clay Judd of St. David, Arizona passed away on March 14, 2020 in Benson, Arizona.  Clay was born July 3, 1937 in Bisbee, Arizona to Laren D. Judd and Cleo Summers.  He graduated from St. David High School.  When Clay turned 20 years old, he volunteered to serve a religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Mexico for 30 months. 

Clay is survived by:  his wife of 58 years, Evangelina Cepada (they married in July 1962 in the Mesa Arizona Temple); his children:  Harold Judd of Safford, Nephi & Kim Judd of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Estrella& Craig Pilgrim of Tucson, Crystal & Randy Gneck of Queen Creek, Hondo & Audrey Judd of Mesa and Amapola & Brian Shimp of Chandler; his siblings:  Larry D. & Opel Judd of Tempe, Bary W. & Carmen Judd of St. David, Orson V. & Louann Judd of Snowflake, Keith A. & Marlet of St. David and Robin and Mark Deskins of St. David.

Clay was preceded in death by his parents, Laren D. and Cleo Judd and his brother John O. Judd. Clay has 23 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. 

As a young man Clay was in ill health and a sickly kid.  He was taken to the doctors and his parents were told that they should take Clay home and make him rest, not to let him exert himself too much, and then he would possibly live into his late teenage years, but not much longer.  Neither he, nor his parents would accept this diagnosis.  His Mother came up with a healthy diet and Clay came up with an exercise plan.  As a young kid, not yet a teenager, he started a diet of no junk food and a very demanding workout schedule.  Clay's thoughts were that if his heart was a muscle and he exercised that muscle and made it stronger, and if he obeyed the "Word of Wisdom" and only put good food into his body, then those promises found in the "Word of Wisdom" would be kept.  Over the next eight decades "COACH" CLAY JUDD accumulated hundreds and hundreds of awards and records and created champion, after champion in different sports and sporting events, but MOST IMPORTANTLY CHAMPIONS IN LIFE!!!

During the early part of Clay and Eva's married life, their yard was never filled with grass and flowers; instead it was filled with ropes and poles, hurdles and jumping pits.  Lifting equipment was never left outside; it was too expensive.  So it was kept inside where the kids could lift and not be out in the weather to catch a cold or worse.  That was until the house was built … and the only stipulation that Clay had was "I want a basement, and the basement is mine!  The basement is a gym and will finally be a place for our lifting equipment."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said, the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty."  Coach Donald Clay Judd was a loyal husband, father, friend brother and firm in his faith, committed to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Like the Apostle Paul, he has "fought a good fight, has finished his course, he has kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).  We believe that he shall have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansion which is prepared for him in the house of his Father in Heaven.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Clay Judd, please visit our floral store.