Judith Anne McCreless Palm Keller (Judi)

September 13, 1942 - February 6, 2025

Judith Anne McCreless Palm Keller (Judi) of Lubbock, Texas died on Feb 6, 2025 after a period of declining health, surrounded by family. She was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 13, 1942 to Blake Gilderoy McCreless and Doris Faye Farris McCreless (later Palm). Her mother and father divorced in 1946 and each remarried in 1950. Her stepfather was Edwin H. Palm and her stepmother was Eleanor Gregory McCreless. Following graduation from Southwest High School in 1960, she attended Texas State University. Judi married Charles William Keller in 1963 in San Antonio, Texas. They were married for 61 years.  

Judi worked in radio and television for a decade, including at KCBD Radio as a copywriter and for KCBD Television in the promotion department. She was a stay-at-home Mom to David William Keller and Matthew Charles Keller during which time she volunteered at the Museum of Texas Tech University, the Ranching Heritage Center, St. Paul’s on-the-Plains Church, the Moody Planetarium, the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Family Outreach, Cub Scouts, All Saints Parents Organization, and Parent Teacher Associations at Atkins Junior High and Monterey High School.  

When her sons were in middle school, Judi enrolled at Texas Tech University, earning a B.S. degree in speech-language pathology in 1987 and a M.S. degree in speech-language pathology in 1990. After her children left for college, Judi worked as a speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings and for 17 years as an assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) where she taught classes, was the Clinic Coordinator, and ran a camp for children who stutter.  

Judi served the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association as president from 2007-2010 and as Vice President for Public Information and Marketing from 2011-2014. She also served as President of the Council of State Association Presidents, on the Advisory Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Political Action Committee, and on the executive board of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Judi received the Jack L. Bangs Award and was entered in the Hall of Fame of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She also received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007, the President’s Distinguished Clinician Award, and the Hall of Fame Award from TTUHSC. Judi is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and was honored with an endowed scholarship in her name from the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  

After retirement, Judi volunteered for the Appointments Advisory Committee for the City of Lubbock, the Parenting Cottage, the Board of Directors of the Lubbock Women’s Club, and St. Paul’s on-the-Plains Episcopal Church where she served as president of the ECW and on the Altar Guild.  Judi loved spending time with friends and especially enjoyed her book club, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Books and her friends in the Mary Jane Club.

While Judi worked in a variety of settings, her favorite job was being a mother to David and Matt and grandmother to Julia and James. She is survived by her husband, Charles (Chuck), sons David and Matt, daughter-in-law, Kim, granddaughter, Julia (age 11), grandson, James (age 9), brother Ronald and wife Lynn of San Antonio, brother James and wife Dalia of Atascosa, brother, Rick of San Antonio, sister, Janet of Austin and sister, Jeanne and husband, Jimmy of San Antonio. 

A funeral and reception will be held at St. Paul’s on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, 1510 Avenue X on Saturday, February 15 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Judith P. Keller Scholarship thru the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation by visiting https://tshfoundation.salsalabs.org/oceansmultistepeoy

(select Scholarship: Judith Keller Fund). Or send checks to TSH Foundation, 1369 Sayles Boulevard, Abilene, TX 79605 (in the memo line of the check, indicate: Judith Keller Fund).

Memorial Service

 

Funeral and Reception
Saturday, February 15
2:00 PM
St. Paul’s on-the-Plains Episcopal Church
1510 Avenue X
Lubbock, TX 79401