Judith A. (Long) Mattingly, a native Texan with family roots in Southeast Texas that go back well over two hundred years, left this Earthly life on July 15, 2026, after succumbing heroically to a drawn-out battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

 “Judy-Ann,” – a name bestowed on her by many childhood friends that remained so well into her adulthood - was born and raised in Dayton, Texas, to her parents, Floy Conner Long and  Henry Clifford Long, and is survived by her brother Henry Clifford Long III and her sister, Bertie Lea Collier. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Mattingly and her sister, Brenda Lea Clark.

She was educated in the public schools of Dayton and graduated with the class of 1961. During her tenure as a proud ‘Lady Bronco,’ Judy excelled academically as well as extra-curricular-ally as Drum Major and Lead Twirler of the Bronco band, while playing piano, tenor saxophone and bassoon in the concert band. Fulfilling a deep Texas tradition, she was also named “Football Sweetheart” in her Senior Year. Upon graduation from high school, she attended the Patricia Stevens’ finishing school in Houston. 

Upon graduation she worked in corporate marketing in Houston where she met her future husband, Donald Norman Stepelton, whom she married in 1962. Their marriage produced two sons, Norman Kyle Mattingly (Houston) and Bradley Todd Mattingly (Flagstaff, Arizona), and a granddaughter, Sierra Jane Mattingly (Germany.) 

Judy remarried in 1972 to Thomas William (“Bill”) Mattingly and they lived in Conroe, Texas for several years before his work found them relocating to Scottsdale, Arizona. After they established a home there, Judy was able to continue her advanced schooling at Arizona State University where she completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice with a specialty of alcohol and drug counseling. With a perfect GPA of 4.0 throughout her college career, she was honored as a Master’s Fellow in the ASU Graduate College. Her post graduate work included professional positions at the Scottsdale City Court Prosecutor’s Diversion Program and the Camelback Hospital’s Psychiatric Department, as Executive Director of their substance abuse program.

Subsequently, as a result of Camelback Hospital merging with another national healthcare system, Judy was offered the opportunity to purchase and operate Camelback’s Behavioral Health Department. In doing so, she formed Justice Services Incorporated as an independent behavioral health agency serving the criminal court systems throughout Maricopa County and the State of Arizona’s Department of Corrections. In this position she was a lifelong community advocate for women’s mental and behavioral health and the co-author of a textbook about prevention and treatment of domestic violence. Continuing her advocacy for women she served a term as president of the Phoenix chapter of Soroptimist International.

In 2009 Justice Services Inc. was bought out by a private equity group and Judy entered into a richly deserved retirement. During Covid she moved back to a new property in Liberty County, Texas, where she would celebrate and live out her retirement with family and close friends. This geographical move closed her adventurous life journey and fulfilled the old adage, “You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl!” 

Arrangements:

Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, 1304 N. Cleveland, Dayton, Texas

Visitation: Wednesday, 7-22-2026 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

Service: Thursday, 7-23-2026 10:00 A.M.

In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter.