Judy Grace Boatman

Judy Grace Boatman, 68, of Sedalia, MO, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center in Sedalia. She was born on July 4, 1957, in Tuscumbia, Missouri, the daughter of Will Frank Finlay and Doris Jeanette (Miller) Finlay, who preceded her in death.

On April 29, 1977, in Miami, OK, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Billy Jack Boatman, who preceded her in death on February 15, 2022.

Judy was a proud graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, Class of 1975. She continued her education at the University of Texas in Dallas, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business and accounting.

Judy worked for several large property tax corporations as a property tax specialist. She specialized in software education and traveled extensively throughout the United States for her career. While attending college, she also worked for her father, Bill Finlay, in his neon glass shop in Dallas.

Family was the most important thing in the world to Judy. She deeply loved her niece and nephew, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and cared for them as her own. She was an avid baseball fan, the Texas Rangers being her favorite team. Judy was a season ticket holder and helped pass her love for baseball on to her nephew, Mark.

Judy also had a special love for animals, especially her cats and dogs. She was talented in creating beautiful cross-stitch pieces and enjoyed sharing her gifts with others. Judy was a woman of great faith. She loved children, taught children's church, and was lovingly known as "Grandma" by many of the children whose lives she touched.

Judy is survived by her sister, Cathy Harrison and her husband, Noel, of Sedalia; her niece and nephew, Missi (Toby) Pierce, and Mark Woolery; a great-nephew, Wyatt Pierce; a great-niece, Liza Woolery; her stepmother, Maggie Patterson of Tucson, Arizona; two stepchildren, Brett Allan Boatman and his wife, Cindy, and Brenda Joy Corbett, all of Sedalia; five grandchildren, Kim Tanner and her husband, Donny, Kari Wright and her husband, Justin, Bryan Corbett and his wife, Krista, Jeremy Boatman, and Kevin Boatman; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and two great-great-grandchildren on the way.

In addition to her husband and parents, Judy was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Madison Wright.

A memorial service will be held at Flat Creek Baptist Church and will be announced by the family at a later date.

Inurnment will be held at a later date in Flat Creek Cemetery, rural Sedalia, MO.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Flat Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rea Funeral Chapel.