Judith M. (Sawyer) James, 82
Judith M. (Sawyer) James was "called to the home of her Lord and Savior" on Sunday, March 5, 2006. Judith passed away peacefully at her home in Billings, which she loved, and on her favorite day of the week, Sunday.
Judith was born Dec. 26, 1923, in Moore, Mont., the sixth of nine children to Edward and Mabel (Spragg) Sawyer. She attended school in Hidden Valley in Suffolk.
Judith met and fell in love with Harold "Bud" James. They were married in Lewistown on Sept. 13, 1939, and to this marriage seven wonderful children were born, all of whom she loved equally.
She enjoyed life to the fullest. She was a very, very devoted Christian and dedicated to the Lord's work. Judith was devoted to bringing people to the Lord, and one special person she lead to the Lord was John Garcia, who had a very special place in her heart.
Judith also had her adopted family, Jim and Kathy Jones and their children, whom she loved so very much and spent so much time with. The past few years were a joy to Judith to be with her prayer partner, Marilyn Montoya. Most of her time was spent in prayer for her family and everyone she came in contact with. Judith was responsible for opening the Hope Center in Billings on 12th and 28th Street North.
Preceding Judith in death were her husband, Harold James; a son, Wayne James; a great-grandson, Ricky James; four brothers, Norman, Ralph, Roy and Lawrence; a sister, Dorothy; and her parents, Edward and Mabel.
Survivors include three sons, Edward and Cheerl James of Billings, Leslie and Penny James of Kalispell, and Jimmy and Cindy James of Kalispell; three daughters, Margaret James and John Hudyma of Billings, Diana and Steve Twet of Kalispell, and Linda and Wayne Tipps of Federal Way, Wash.; two brothers, Vernon and Cora Sawyer of Billings, and Teddy and Barbara Sawyer of Seattle; a sister, Beryl and Richard Morrill of Utah; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Wise and Jeanette Turner, both of Lewistown. Judith also has 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, as well as her many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitations will begin this evening at the Smith Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27th St., in Billings and continue until service time Wednesday. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Smith Downtown Chapel, with a reception there afterward. The burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Central Montana Memorial Gardens in Lewistown.