Eulogy Judy K. Raisley
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Psalm 31:2 says Bow down your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be you my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me. In the OT of the Bible family is translated house from the original Hebrew word בֵּ֨ית, bay-it, (buy-eet). The word can be used to describe the immediate family, the clan, and the people, מִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת, mis-pah-ha is also a word commonly used in the OT to define family and more often defined the larger group of an extended family or clan. The house of defence to save can be viewed as the Kingdom of God which is the church which Jesus saves, and Judy loved her immediate family her buy-eet, her extended family, and her community, and people of God her mis-pah-ha, which can be seen in those who have come out to share their condolences and celebrate her life today, and the lives she touched throughout her life. My aunt Judy was a servant with a servants heart as seen by the God ordained works she fulfilled. When Keri, Vicki, Matthew and I were growing up birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas were big days and aunt Judy was always engaged in the celebration. Joking and laughter were staples of any Raisley event and Judy was right there among us entertaining and enjoying the festivities, whether it was getting Matthew to tell the mouse joke, or someone saying the M R Geese rhyme, or just setting the record straight on past family follies she was always there with a smile, until it was time to not smile and she was good at getting us inline if needed. Whether it was supporting Vicki’s adventurous fashion sense in high school, ski trips, or cross country skiing, or cheering for Keri, Matthew and I while playing soccer, Judy was game for whatever activity was going on, and though I was hours away I can imagine that she did the same for her grandchildren including Emma who is tearing up the pitch at IUP, and Andrew swimming at Pitt. We never missed a beat as a family and Judy was the same last Christmas with her grandchildren as she always was with the family, smiling, laughing and joking. I know she prayed for the best for her family I remember specifically her cheering on Keri on the soccer pitch yelling, Keri, Keri, Keri, and when the offense of the other team was bearing down on the goal when I was goaltending, yelling Paul, Paul, Paul, and the ovation when a play or save was made was encouraging to us, of course many plays and saves were made. Judy was a witness to many of my dad’s antics, and she always had a great spread and cheer at Halloween when handing out candy. She even let me store the neighborhood skateboard ramp under the garage for years. She was integral to the best community a kid could grow up in, as we roamed the streets of Prospect. Through the good and the bad, aunt Judy was steady, and she faced the loss of uncle Ed when Keri and I were in 6th grade, Matthew in 4th and Vicki was in 9th, and she made it through and stayed strong with Jesus by her side through the dark night of loss.
Psalm 31:2 says Bow down your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be you my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me. In the OT of the Bible family is translated house from the original Hebrew word בֵּ֨ית, bay-it, (buy-eet). The word can be used to describe the immediate family, the clan, and the people, מִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת, mis-pah-ha is also a word commonly used in the OT to define family and more often defined the larger group of an extended family or clan. The house of defence to save can be viewed as the Kingdom of God which is the church which Jesus saves, and Judy loved her immediate family her buy-eet, her extended family, and her community, and people of God her mis-pah-ha, which can be seen in those who have come out to share their condolences and celebrate her life today, and the lives she touched throughout her life. My aunt Judy was a servant with a servants heart as seen by the God ordained works she fulfilled. When Keri, Vicki, Matthew and I were growing up birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas were big days and aunt Judy was always engaged in the celebration. Joking and laughter were staples of any Raisley event and Judy was right there among us entertaining and enjoying the festivities, whether it was getting Matthew to tell the mouse joke, or someone saying the M R Geese rhyme, or just setting the record straight on past family follies she was always there with a smile, until it was time to not smile and she was good at getting us inline if needed. Whether it was supporting Vicki’s adventurous fashion sense in high school, ski trips, or cross country skiing, or cheering for Keri, Matthew and I while playing soccer, Judy was game for whatever activity was going on, and though I was hours away I can imagine that she did the same for her grandchildren including Emma who is tearing up the pitch at IUP, and Andrew swimming at Pitt. We never missed a beat as a family and Judy was the same last Christmas with her grandchildren as she always was with the family, smiling, laughing and joking. I know she prayed for the best for her family I remember specifically her cheering on Keri on the soccer pitch yelling, Keri, Keri, Keri, and when the offense of the other team was bearing down on the goal when I was goaltending, yelling Paul, Paul, Paul, and the ovation when a play or save was made was encouraging to us, of course many plays and saves were made. Judy was a witness to many of my dad’s antics, and she always had a great spread and cheer at Halloween when handing out candy. She even let me store the neighborhood skateboard ramp under the garage for years. She was integral to the best community a kid could grow up in, as we roamed the streets of Prospect. Through the good and the bad, aunt Judy was steady, and she faced the loss of uncle Ed when Keri and I were in 6th grade, Matthew in 4th and Vicki was in 9th, and she made it through and stayed strong with Jesus by her side through the dark night of loss.
The most important thing Judy did was represent a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ that would pay off big in many lives, and my life as well, as I had a family. It was Christmas day 2006 and my daughter was six months old and aunt Judy asked me if we had a church in VA, and I said, “No,” and she encouraged me to get my family involved in a church. That February, under a month and a half later my family was in church every Sunday. Seven years passed and I had a born again saving encounter with Christ and since have gone on to seminary, have seen people saved, and am seeking a pastor position, and she played a role in all of it.
The most important thing Judy did was represent a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ that would pay off big in many lives, and my life as well, as I had a family. It was Christmas day 2006 and my daughter was six months old and aunt Judy asked me if we had a church in VA, and I said, “No,” and she encouraged me to get my family involved in a church. That February, under a month and a half later my family was in church every Sunday. Seven years passed and I had a born again saving encounter with Christ and since have gone on to seminary, have seen people saved, and am seeking a pastor position, and she played a role in all of it.
I met with Judy last Christmas and was left with confidence of her hope in her eternal security in Jesus Christ. Peter writes, “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). The hope we have in Jesus is not hope the way often thought of, but is better translated from the Greek, expectation, and Judy knew where she was going and is present with the Lord today. I prayed with her before I left, that was the last time I saw her. I spoke with her six days before she passed, and she sounded great, but she wasn’t great by earthly standards, although she was by heavenly spiritual standards. She lives today and is present with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am assured that she would want me to share with you what she shared with me, and she would want me to report the truth. Some have heard me say this before, some very close to me, and I will say it again. Heaven and hell are real, Jesus is real, and you can have eternal salvation in him, and Judy and all believers who have gone ahead of us are awaiting those who accept Christ for the forgiveness of sins to join them one day where the family of God, the mis-pah-ha, will reign forever. Jesus truly did die on a cross, rose on the third day, and ascended into heaven. Confession that he is Lord, and that we are dead in our sins is the door many will not open because of the love of sin. Turn today away from pride, sin and death, come to the cross and lay down the sins you have hidden in your heart and accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, before it is too late, and this time we have together will become a path into glory.
I met with Judy last Christmas and was left with confidence of her hope in her eternal security in Jesus Christ. Peter writes, “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). The hope we have in Jesus is not hope the way often thought of, but is better translated from the Greek, expectation, and Judy knew where she was going and is present with the Lord today. I prayed with her before I left, that was the last time I saw her. I spoke with her six days before she passed, and she sounded great, but she wasn’t great by earthly standards, although she was by heavenly spiritual standards. She lives today and is present with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am assured that she would want me to share with you what she shared with me, and she would want me to report the truth. Some have heard me say this before, some very close to me, and I will say it again. Heaven and hell are real, Jesus is real, and you can have eternal salvation in him, and Judy and all believers who have gone ahead of us are awaiting those who accept Christ for the forgiveness of sins to join them one day where the family of God, the mis-pah-ha, will reign forever. Jesus truly did die on a cross, rose on the third day, and ascended into heaven. Confession that he is Lord, and that we are dead in our sins is the door many will not open because of the love of sin. Turn today away from pride, sin and death, come to the cross and lay down the sins you have hidden in your heart and accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, before it is too late, and this time we have together will become a path into glory.
