Judy Eileen Saunders, age 81, of Seguin, Texas, passed away on April 3, 2026.
Judy was born on October 12, 1944, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Virginia Taylor Turley and was adopted by James B. Saunders and Mary E. Saunders. She grew up in Central Texas and graduated from MacArthur High School in 1963. She went on to attend Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, where she met Glen Arthur Engeling. The two were married in September of 1966 and began their life together as a Navy family, living in Pensacola, Florida, during training and later in Newport News, Virginia, while Glen was stationed at Langley Air Force Base.
Judy’s life was marked by both deep love and resilience. After the loss of her newborn twins, she later welcomed her daughters, Kimberly Engeling-Saunders and Denise Sheldon, and made her home in Central Texas, eventually settling in Seguin. With the support of her parents and sister, Diana, she raised her daughters in a supportive, loving family.
From the age of four through eighteen, Judy studied dance, training in ballet, tap, and jazz. She trained under the renowned “Toots” Johnson, a Hollywood dancer and choreographer, and performed throughout Central Texas for veterans’ groups and community events.
Teaching became Judy’s true calling. She returned to Texas Lutheran College, earned her degree and teaching certificate, and embarked on a dedicated teaching career spanning more than thirty years in Seguin ISD, Gonzales ISD, and Judson ISD, where she became a Math Trainer. She devoted countless hours to developing lessons, leading workshops for teachers, tutoring students, and teaching summer and evening classes. Her students described her as “strict but fair,” and they appreciated her humor, dedication, and unwavering belief in their ability to succeed.
Judy was a woman of strong personality and vibrant spirit. She was feisty, competitive, and known for her sharp wit and unmistakable sarcasm, often delivered with a playful smile. She had a flair for storytelling, sometimes embellishing details for dramatic effect, much to the delight of those around her. She cared deeply about fairness and social justice and was generous with both her time and her resources.
In her earlier years, Judy enjoyed cooking, baking, crafting, and gardening, and she took pride in creating a warm, cozy, and beautifully decorated home—especially during the holidays. In her later years, she relished playing games and keeping up with friends on Facebook. She lived with her daughter Kimberly, where she spent many leisurely hours sitting on the front porch, sharing stories from her life as a teacher, mother, and grandmother, as well as fond memories of growing up in San Antonio and Blanco with family and friends.
She was grateful to reconnect later in life with her biological brothers, Gary and Windle, and cherished the relationship she and Gary built.
Judy was a lifelong Lutheran whose faith sustained her through life’s many challenges, including the loss of her twins and a newborn grandson, a battle with thyroid cancer in her 40s, and ongoing health struggles. She often recited the Serenity Prayer and shared this practice with her grandson Cameron. Her steadfast faith in God gave her strength in hardship, comfort in sorrow, and a deep sense of peace in uncertain times. She trusted that every chapter of her life held purpose, and in the end, she rested in the assurance of God’s grace and the promise of eternal life.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, James B. and Mary E. Saunders; her sisters, Bonnie Blanchard, Diana Saunders, and Mary Lee Alexander; her daughters, Amy Lynne and Angela Lynne Engeling; her grandson, Aidan Crettenden, and many other beloved relatives.
She is survived by her brothers, James “Billy” Saunders II and wife Lisa, Gary Turley, and Windle Turley; her daughters, Kimberly Engeling-Saunders and Denise Crettenden and husband Leigh; her grandchildren, Cameron Saunders-Matthews, Eleanor Crettenden, and Abigail Crettenden; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, including: Linda Randall and husband Lloyd, Marilyn Payne, Jackie Ross, Walter Klaus, extended family members, and dear friends.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 10:00am to 11:00am with a Celebration of Life at 11:00am at Tres Hewell Mortuary in Seguin.
Memorial contributions for large print books may be made to the Seguin Public Library, 313 W. Nolte Street, Seguin, Texas 78155 (please make checks payable to Seguin Public Library with “large print books” noted in the memo line). FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.