Mrs. Lyla June "Judy Fretz-Crowley" Broyles

Mrs. Lyla June "Judy" (Fretz/Crowley) Broyles, age 84 passed away February 9, 2026, in Mena, Arkansas. Judy was born March 13, 1941, in Hatfield, Arkansas to Theodore "Ted" and Helen (Havens) Fretz of Hatfield. She married James "Lawrence" Crowley on March 24, 1957. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 35 years, Lawrence Crowley, and her husband of 29 years, Richard Broyles. Judy will be truly missed, but we rejoice as we know she was welcomed at Heaven's gates by the family and friends that loved her here on earth.

Judy is survived by her son Michael "Mike" Crowley and wife Sherri of Mena, son James "Jim" Crowley and wife Gayla of Mena, daughter Debby Baughman and husband Tony of Mena, daughter Teri Dunagan and husband Kenny of Collinsville, Oklahoma, son Christopher "Chris" and wife Lacey of Elkins, Arkansas, step-daughter Linda Broyles and husband Terry Duesterhoeft of Santa Cruz, California, and step-son Scott Broyles and wife Donna of Little Rock. Judy was a very proud grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 23.

Judy began her working career early in life, starting at the Renova Shirt Factory in Mena at about the age of 18. She stayed on to work for Cowden's Manufacturing for many years after Cowden's bought Renova and later went on to work at Sears and JC Penny. With the help of her husband Lawrence, Judy eventually gained the courage to go into business for herself as owner and operator of the Mode-O-Day and Fashion Crossroads dress shops in Mena until Lawrence's death in 1992.

Two years after Lawrence's death Judy met and married Richard Broyles, a retired Navy man, and decided to take some time off to travel and enjoy life. She and Richard were on the road a lot traveling to many naval ship reunions in Maryland, Virginia and Louisiana, countless national and state historic sites, several Arkansas state parks as well as family reunions in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. After the traveling bug settled a little, she worked as a volunteer for some years at the gift shop in the Mena Regional Health System and later a short stint at the Polk County Library before finally calling it quits from the working world to fully retire, take life easy, and enjoy her family.

Judy was heavily engaged in the community and loved volunteer work. She was a life-long member of the Mena Emblem Club and served multiple terms as its President as well as president of the Arkansas State Emblem Club. She represented the Emblem Club on numerous committees and participated in events such as fundraising for CASA, annual Memorial Day Services, Veteran's Day and Relay for Life activities, the Annual Lum and Abner Festival, Mena Elks Lodge Thanksgiving Food Basket and Children's Christmas Programs, Toys-for-Tots and many other community related functions and activities.

It has always been humorously said that Judy knew everyone in Mena, and everyone knew her through her volunteerism, social club activities, her two clothing stores, and her countless hours spent wandering around Walmart visiting with everyone she came in contact with. And it's true that she did in fact spend 6 hours in Walmart one afternoon a few years ago while Richard patiently waited the entire six hours in the car. It was also a known fact that she had a hard time getting anywhere on time. She always joked about being late for her own funeral and wanted to be brought in 5 minutes after her service was scheduled to begin. However, her kids wanted you all to see that with a little help, she did make it on time for her last get-together.

Pallbearers are childhood and life-long friends of Judy's, Mike Oglesby, Dennis Rowe, Philip Gortemiller, Jon Paul McMellon, Walt (Skeets) Williams and Steve Singleton.

Visitation will be held in the Beasley Wood Chapel, on Friday February 13, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will take place at the First Salem Baptist Church in Nunley, Arkansas, at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Pastor Dan Hill and Pastor Donnie Jewel will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.