Judy Kay Johnston

Life is strung together from a series of unexpected moments. Each one shapes us — some may break us, some will heal us, but some will become the stories we are remembered by. If you ever met Judy Johnston, chances are you have a story to tell. She filled every room she entered, whether with laughter, stories, opinions, or simply her unmistakable presence. Judy was unapologetically herself. She was loud, and somehow only got louder the longer she talked. She was brash, stubborn as a mule, rough around the edges, and never afraid to tell off anyone who looked at her — or her children — sideways. Her laughter was contagious. The kind that left everyone else laughing because they couldn’t tell if she was catching her breath or losing it altogether. She was also the kind of person to insist on matching shirts, only to wear hers backwards because “It looks better this way.” Judy loved dolphins. If she found something with one on it, it usually found its way home with her. At one point, that even included a bar of soap shaped like a dolphin. No special occasion. No practical reason. It was a dolphin, and that was enough. She rarely bought just one jar of Tostitos Salsa Con Queso. She bought two because the first one was for the drive home. More often than not, it didn't even make it to the first red light. Judy had a habit of telling stories that grew with each retelling, especially when they were about her children. She was never shy about singing their praises, determined that no one would underestimate what they were capable of. Whether the details were perfectly accurate wasn’t really the point. She wanted the world to see the potential she saw in them. Those unexpected moments are the ones her family will carry forward: the stories they'll tell, the laughter they'll hear in their memories, and the pieces of Judy they'll find in one another for years to come. Judy Kay McCann Johnston, 65, of Centerville, TN, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at her home, where she shared her life with her loving partner, Robert Smithson, and their sweet dog, Zoey. She was born on March 9, 1961. She spent her childhood between Hohenwald and Ridgely, TN, before making her home in Hickman County. Judy was preceded in death by: her father, Bobby Gene McCann; her mother, Betty Jean McCann; her brother, Billy McCann; her husband, Steve Johnston; as well as many beloved aunts and uncles; and, most heartbreakingly, several grandchildren who never had the chance to come home. Judy is survived by: her devoted life partner, Robert Smithson; her brother Bobby McCann (Carol); her son, Steven Johnston (Jill); her daughters, Angel Nance (Kenneth); Lisa Webb (David); Christina Johnston (Chris); Sabrina Bucholtz (Joshua); Eden Johnston; sixteen grandchildren; one great-grandson; and another great-grandson on the way. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Judy's life on Friday July 24, 2026. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm at the McDonald Funeral Home, Inc. in Centerville, followed immediately by a Graveside service at 3:30pm at Wade-Peeler Cemetery.

Judy Kay Johnston

March 9, 1961 - July 15, 2026