Judith Ann "Judy" (Jones) Thayer

Judith Ann Thayer (Jones) was released into heaven from her broken, earthly vessel on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Hospital Dearborn County, in the wee hours of the morning, surrounded by people who love her the most—her beloveds: Roger Wayne Thayer—her husband of 57 years, Christopher Wayne Thayer and Christopher Szaibel—her son and son-in-law, and Stacie Ann Sudkamp (Thayer) and Brian Sudkamp—her daughter and son-in-law. The other light of her life, her granddaughter Marydith Ann Sudkamp—a college student pursuing her dreams of studying abroad—was heartbroken to not be physically present at the time but was in her Meemaw’s mind and heart until the end, the evidence being that some of Judy’s last words uttered in her final day were about her “baby”, her namesake, her “Marydith”. 

Judy was born on February 14, 1951, in Milan, IN. A Valentine baby and the first-born child to MC Jones and Edith Marie Jones (Cunningham), both of whom passed on before her. She grew up in Ohio County, first on the Ohio River down below the town of Rising Sun, then on the family farm miles deep into Ohio County off 262. She grew up as the epitome of a country kid. She learned how to drive on a tractor and worked the farm with her dad, including every phase of raising tobacco from planting to harvesting. The creek by her house cooled her in the summertime, whether she used it for swimming or drinking. She’d collect discarded pop bottles from the sides of country roads and exchange them for pop and penny candy at the closest general store. She attended Cass Union up to the seventh grade, her favorite memory from the school for country kids was her classmates’ socks hanging to dry over the schoolroom radiator after recesses in the snow. 

Judy began the eighth grade at Rising Sun where she met a handsome, 13-year-old town kid with thick black hair and piercing blue eyes named Roger Thayer. Judy was smitten from first sight, or he was, and Roger always said, “Judy chased me until I caught her.” It was their way of saying their budding love was mutual; that, or they said the other “looked at me like a dyin’ calf in a hailstorm!” The love story between Judy and Roger was an epic tale full of celebration, suspense, pain, intrigue, sorrow, goodness, tribulation, friendship, humor, forgiveness, love, and lots of fast cars. Seriously. At their mutual 74th birthday celebration, Judy and Roger recounted every car they’d ever owned—an interview that took over an hour. And yes, joint birthday parties were common. Roger liked to ask Judy what it was like when dinosaurs roamed the earth, though they were born the same year, making her merely nine days older. Like Roger, Judy also collected her fair share of favorite phrases over the course of their 57-year marriage, her favorite being advice to young maidens looking for a husband. “Get ‘em young and raise ‘em up right,” she’d say, which is exactly what she said she did with Roger. He’d agree. 

Roger became Judy’s caregiver during their final years together. He cooked, baked, cleaned, grocery shopped, chauffeured, laundered clothes, and helped with her crafts. He was the best honey-doer, doing whatever Judy wanted. He also took care of what Judy needed from managing all aspects of her health, including dialysis during her final few months, and literally holding her up when she was too weak to stand. They have been and remained each other’s worlds, until death parted them.

Judy’s favorite role of all was as matriarch of the family she and Roger created. Truly, words simply can’t convey what her children and her granddaughter meant to her. Some of her greatest joys in life were because she got to share life with her children, their spouses, and Marydith; to know Judy was to know them, and that affection was mutual. 

Judy was big sister to and is survived by Dennis Edward Jones (Kim), Jeffrey Conard Jones (Anita), and Larry Dean Jones (Hazel). She loved being big sister to, and eventually dwarfed in height by, her strapping, strong brothers, members of her posse of protectors with whom she shared stories of childhood mischief and fun, although they could never agree on whose version of those stories was most accurate. It’s impossible to parse out if she loved them more, or they her, but their sibling love was deep and abiding, nonetheless. Judy was fortunate that Roger’s family loved her like their own blood. Her life was fuller because of those survived by her: Jean Howe, Gayla Laker, Retta Callis, Sharon Thayer, Carolyn Walton, Belinda Waller (Jack), Rodney Thayer (Cindy), Randy Thayer, and Denise Snelling, and by those who pre-deceased her: Naomi Slayback (Gulley Thayer), Melvin Leslie Thayer, Russell Thayer, Dick Howe, Earl Laker, Steve Callis, and Scott Walton. Judy is also survived by a whole host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom she did her best to express her love throughout their lives. 

Judy was also the best sort of friend to have. She was loyal, kind, thoughtful, protective, no-nonsense, sharp-witted, sometimes sharp-tongued, and she was a hoot to be around. You never knew what would fly out of her mouth, often leaving those around her in stitches or with their mouths slightly agape and adorned with a wry grin. 

Judy worked at Ohio County Elementary Middle School for 32 years. She served her local church, Bethel Unity Baptist Church, for decades in every role imaginable, including church secretary, VBS Director, Sunday School teacher, choir member, song leader, bulletin writer, support/bereavement meal committee, and many more. Judy was also beside Roger at most Southeastern Indiana car shows and cruise-ins, beaming with pride every time they won a trophy. 

Judy loved riding her golf cart after moving to town in 2020. She often gave tours to anyone who would ride with her, her favorite being The Back-Alley Tour of Rising Sun. She loved decorating her golf cart for town contests and was so proud of the time she won. She will be missed by those who got used to her nightly golf cart cruises around town. 

In fact, everyone who knew her will miss her—especially the love of her life, with whom she shared the most epic love story. 

You may pay your respects at Markland Funeral Home, Rising Sun, Indiana.

Visitation is Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m EST.

The funeral begins Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Eunice Kittle Performing Arts Fund, (checks made payable to OCCF).

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