Judith C. Herrick

Judith Claudette Herrick, 84, passed away in Fort Worth, TX on September 28, 2023. Judie was born January 16, 1939, in Beattie, KS to Max Warden and Bertha Josephine (Freeby) Smith, the youngest of their nine children. She was baptized in the Methodist church and graduated from Marysville High School in 1956.

Judie married Billy Dean Wiggers, Sr. on January 1, 1957, and they made their home in Marysville, KS. They later divorced, and she moved to Topeka, KS where she attended Clark's Business School and worked as a bookkeeper/office manager for the Datsun-Volvo and Nissan dealerships for several years. Judie married Harold Gene Herrick on June 3, 1977, and together they owned and operated Guard Automotive and Herrick Garage. She later worked as an office manager for Topeka Tire & Auto and subsequently Tessendorf Welding and Machine until her retirement in 2017. Throughout the years you could also find her working the entrance gate at Midwest Raceway in Manhattan, KS with her friend Nancy.

Judie was preceded in death by her husband Harold in June 2006; her eight siblings: Max Burton Smith, Dolores Brasher, Betty Lee Glick, Verla Luckeroth, Rodney Smith, Shirley Hardman, Phyllis Jones, and Frank Lynn Smith; and son, Richard Wallace. She is survived by her sons, Billy Dean Wiggers, Jr. (Colleen) of North Platte, NE; James "Rusty" Herrick of Topeka, KS; and Douglas Herrick (Christy) of Gardner, KS; her daughters, Carla Arnett (Jim) of Fort Worth, TX; and Sharon Coker (Harry) of Holton, KS; her five grandchildren, Harry, Zane, Michaela, Levi and Dia; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023, 11:00 am at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Topeka, with visitation one hour prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, Judie's family suggests memorial donations be made to the Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, NE.