Judith Lee (Hartley) Holleman

March 23, 1943 - August 11, 2025

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give" - Winston Churchill.

No one personified this quote more than Judy Holleman. Born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, to Alfred and Mildred Hartley, Judy would later attend Endicott Junior College in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she earned her Associate's degree in science. She eventually moved to Dallas, Texas, through the engineering company for which she worked. In June 1975, Judy married Paxton Holleman, bought a home, and settled in Carrollton, Texas, where Judy remained after Paxton's passing in 1989.

Judy was known for being a friend who would drive you to a doctor's appointment on a moment's notice, check on you to see if you were okay and offering encouragement when life threw a curveball, just as freely as she would join you for lunch, which many times was a plateful of quesadillas and a good glass of wine.

Enjoying a good meal was a true pleasure for her. One story is when Judy and her friend Cathy Beasley would travel together:

● Judy and I started European river cruising after several land tours, and Judy was hooked. She loved the cruising atmosphere, but for Judy, it was the great food and wine served on the ship, especially the salmon served at breakfast every day. She'd be up early, go by the coffee shop and grab us both cappuccinos, swing by the cabin to drop mine off while I was finishing getting dressed, then head straight for the buffet for breakfast, and would often be on her second or third helping of salmon by the time I joined her. Watching Judy enjoy something as simple as a plate of fresh, all-you-can-eat salmon was always delightful.

Philanthropist. Volunteer. Mentor.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around" - Leo Buscaglia.

Judy was not as interested in material things as she was in spending time with old friends, making new friends, and supporting the causes she believed in, for both two-legged and four-legged alike. From supporting fundraising efforts and monthly donations to giving her time to mentor new volunteers (and staff!) and fostering dogs, Judy was never shy or hesitant to jump in where help was needed most.

For more than 25 years, Judy was dedicated to the mission at Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas, impacting the organization in many ways for years to come.

Here are just a few of the many tributes:

● Judy was such a hoot. I loved joking back and forth with her and having another sassy person to laugh with. Bruce absolutely adored her. When I first started fostering Bruce from medical, she would see me with him and say "What are you doing with my dog?" Even after almost three years, he would still get sooo excited to see her every time. They had a special bond and we'll both miss her so incredibly much.

● Judy was a force to be reckoned with. She was hilarious, kind, and always ready to shoot the breeze with anyone. Judy was my first friend at OPK. She was always here doing something helpful if she was up in the lobby. She'd give me grief about my long hair one moment, then give me amazing advice the next. This is a big loss for OPK and all of us who loved her, but she will always be remembered for her massive impact and all the good she did.

● Judy was the kind of volunteer you saw in every part of OPK. One day, she would be in the lobby, next time you may find her in medical, laundry, or the pet food pantry. When I was in kennel, she would walk dogs for us, letting us know their personality and what she noticed when taking them into the yards. When I was in client services, she would shred paper for the animals in medical and chat with the staff. When I worked in the pantry, she would pick up donations at Pet Supplies Plus and always did it with a smile. She always did everything she could for the animals.

For over 15 years, Judy supported and volunteered at Metrocrest Services in Carrollton, Texas. She primarily focused her efforts on the food pantry, helping ensure neighbors had access to various foods and hygiene items.

Here are just a few examples of Judy's impact on the organization, staff, and volunteers:

● Judy helped to secure Metrocrest's first food pantry van to pick up donations.

● Although Judy was the first to say she wasn't a gardener, she generously funded the creation of Judy's Garden (named for all the Judys of the world). This is a teaching garden that educates the community and provides fresh produce to food pantry visitors.

● Even though Judy was not a morning person, she picked up bread donations from Whole Foods at 7:00 am for years. Everyone knew her as the "grumpy bread lady," but that was a joke because everyone loved her.

● Every Tuesday during COVID, Judy would come to her volunteer shift with 30-40 tubes of toothpaste to donate to the pantry and became known as the "toothpaste lady".

● Judy would make deals with Dollar Tree to purchase toothpaste, toothbrushes, and cooking oil at a bulk rate, buy the items, and then donate them to the food pantry.

Judy was also a dedicated volunteer and a good friend of Straydog for eight years. She supported the organization by attending its galas, adoption events, donor appreciations, and cookie exchanges. Even during COVID, she would help at adoption events. She really loved the dogs, especially Pinky and Lucy, and rarely turned down an invite to attend a Straydog party.

Witty. Loyal. Caring. Fiesty. Fun.

Ask anyone who knew Judy to describe who she was, and you may hear as many different adjectives as the number of people you ask. If something needed to be done, she made sure it was done. Having one of those days? She offered sage advice, even though it may not be what you wanted to hear, but needed to hear. You could count on Judy to have a witty yet sassy retort to lighten the moment.

There were also times when Judy said something completely unexpected. Then she would smile mischievously, and everyone would have a good laugh. She was a bright light to everyone she touched.

While there isn't enough time or space to describe Judy's impact on all who knew her, I think this statement comes as close as we can get:

Judy showed up with unwavering dedication, compassion, and resilience. Her legacy lives on in the animals she helped heal, the lives she changed, the friendships she nurtured, and the deep example of service she gave for us to follow. We will miss her warmth, strength, and tireless spirit.

Thank you, Judy, for everything. We will carry you with us always.

Judy is preceded in death by her father, Alfred M. Hartley Jr., mother, Mildred H. Hartley, and brother, Alfred M. Hartley. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Bea Hartley, nieces Robin L. Daly and Jill D. Underwood, great-nieces and nephews Abby, Delaney, Tiernan, Ryan, and Ethan, and many dear friends.

Several celebrations of Judy's life will take place at a later date. For those who wish to honor Judy, consider a donation to these organizations:

● Operation Kindness

● Metrocrest Services

● Straydog

For easy access, see these Donation Links below