Juliet "Judy" Jelks Obituary (1924 - 2017)

Juliet Judy Jelks, 93, of Normal, passed away on Wednesday morning (Dec. 13, 2017) at Heritage Health, Normal. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no visitation, funeral, or other services.She was born June 6, 1924 in Burnet, Texas, daughter of George and Ruby Scott Christian. She married Edward Jelks on August 12, 1944, in Austin Texas, and he survives.Also surviving are son, Chris Jelks of Parker, Colorado; grandsons, Devin Jelks and Scott Jelks and great-granddaughters, Olivia Jelks and Amelia Jelks.She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, George Christian.For some years after marriage, Judy worked as a technician compiling statistics on oil and other commodities in Texas to help finance husband Eds education as an archaeologist. Later, although she had no formal training in archaeology, she became an accomplished field archaeologist by assisting Ed on scores of digs in Texas, Illinois, Newfoundland, New York, and the Marshall Islands in Micronesia. She co-authored several published articles on archaeology with Ed, and the two of them co-edited Historical Dictionary of North American Archaeology which was named as the best reference book of 1988 by The Library Journal.Over a period of about forty years, she and Ed were host parents of dozens of international students, who viewed her as a sort of surrogate mother, at The University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, and Illinois State University. Until the time of her death, she communicated regularly with many former students in several foreign countries. In 2000 she and Ed were awarded a bronze plaque in Beijing by the Chinese Ministry of Culture expressing appreciation for their 20 years as hosts of numerous exchange students and for their efforts to promote greater understanding between the Chinese and American people.Judy will be fondly remembered by the many people whose lives she touched.