Judy Kay Vavra

Judy Kay (Wilson) Vavra, 77, a beloved woman, known for her kindness and warmth of Elk Point, SD, peacefully departed from this world on, June 7, 2024, at a local hospital, in Sioux City, where she was born on July 20, 1946 at St. Vincent Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. She was the only child of Howard Wilson and Meroe Imogene (Buser).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Elk Point United Parish located at 2102 E Main St, Elk Point, SD 57025, followed by interment at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024, all held at the church. 

Judy grew up in Dakota City, NE and later spent four years in Basset, NE. She met the love of her life, Melvin. She and Melvin were soon married and this year, a couple months shy of August 8, 2024 would have been their 60th wedding anniversary.  

She called herself a domestic “goddess” housewife. Her largest goal in life was to be an amazing wife, mother and care for her home and family.  She loved bright colors; flowers and her personality were a compliment to that.  

Melvin and she lived in many places and had many adventures.  They started married life in Duluth, MN for three years. When Melvin went to the Vietnam War tours, she remained with her mother.  Following that, they went to Germany for four years.  Then they moved to Mountain Home, Idaho for three years, Offutt Air Force base for five years, and planted roots in Allen, NE. They farmed for twenty years and continued to stay in Allen for another ten years. Finally, in 2001 they made Elk Point, South Dakota their home. 

Together, Judy and Melvin had three boys: Antonin Ernest, Wesley Todd, and Corey Wendell.  She was so proud of being a mother and graduated to being a grandmother of 6 grandchildren: Allison, Autumn, Andrew, Samantha, Coleman and Kelli.  She was a great grandmother to three: Kinzley, Theadora and Elsie.

She was very active in her community, with the United Methodist Church in Allen, NE; a permanent member of American Legion Post 131 Auxiliary, Auxiliary President for one year in Allen, NE;   Lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 5435 in Martinsburg where she served 7 years as President and one year as District President, Active member in a camping group, member of the Air Museum of Sioux City, Charter member of Good Sams Camping Club, and a group of ladies who played dominoes in Elk Point, SD.

The greatest joys in Judy’s life were planting flowers, bright colors surrounding her, traveling with Melvin, the beautiful gifts of jewelry he would purchase for her, and her biggest passion, her family.

Survivors include her husband, Melvin Lee Vavra; children:  Tony Vavra, Wesley (Alice) Vavra, and Corey (Suzy, fiancé) Vavra; grandchildren:  Allison Vavra, Autumn Vavra, Andrew Vavra, Samantha (Kyler) McGhee, Coleman Vavra, and Kelli Vavra and three great grandchildren: Kinzley, Theadora and Elsie. Also included in the survivors are her step siblings, Dena McRoberts, Billy Lemon, her Aunt Pat Conner and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their special friends: Wes and Jan Cordes. 

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Meroe Imogene Buser and Howard Wilson and a special mentor, Charles Petit.