Judi Friday, owner of Friday Motors, dies at 80
Judi Friday, longtime Taos resident and matriarch of the since-sold Friday Motors along Paseo del Pueblo Sur, passed away on Wednesday (March 1), leaving behind a legacy of family, community and local entrepreneurship. She was 80.
Friday was in hospice care of a long illness early in the day last Wednesday, according to her family. The late Friday was the oldest living namesake of the longstanding Friday Motors car dealership after her husband, Larry Friday, passed away in 2009.
Friday will be remembered for her outgoing spirit, sense of hospitality and love for her community, said her daughters Debbie Jagers and Elizabeth Friday-Skoda late last week. “The one thing I think everyone seems to have to say is that she was extraordinarily gracious,” Jagers said. “She was a fantastic hostess who wanted to make sure everyone was okay.”
Jagers and Friday said their mother was “a caregiver to the max,” helping people left and right. “She was always the person to send a card or a note, or to check in on somebody,” Jagers said. “She really cared about anyone and everyone.” Her daughters described her as a “trailblazer” in the Taos community.
Judi and Larry Friday moved to Taos just over 50 years ago, bringing Judi’s family business from Albuquerque to Taos — her father founded Albuquerque’s Galles
Chevrolet in 1908.
The Fridays became influential community members, with Larry helping to form the El Prado Water & Sanitation District as well as several senior centers in the county. Judi was by his side, lending support and ideas, and always playing host to those looking to help in similar ways.
“She was a lot of fun,” FridaySkoda recalled.
“People’s memories of my mom are that she was lovely, she was gracious, she always had a smile, and she had a very big heart for people,” added Jagers, who noted her mother was an avid bridge player.
Beyond her sociability, she was extremely intelligent, said her daughters. “She could read a financial document from 100 yards [away] and tell you exactly what was wrong with it,” Jagers said, also pointing out her mother never studied or trained in finance.
When the Friday family moved to Taos, Debbie and Elizabeth said their mother was nervous about the transition to a small town. However, they said she found herself right at home in Northern New Mexico. “She loved Taos,” Jagers said. “She loved the arts, she loved her friends, she loved the sense of community, and she loved the fact that she could make an impact in a small town. She absolutely would not have lived anywhere else.”
Friday was also heavily involved with St. James Episcopal Church. “Talk about a fun church,” FridaySkoda said. “They had a ball.”
When their mother first became
Judi Friday ill in 2013, the Friday daughters made her care a top priority. On top of Judi’s illness, Debbie and Elizabeth began dealing with their sister’s health in 2016, who also fell ill.
When it came to Friday Motors,
Jagers said she had been dealing with the business side of things, but decided her priorities came down to work or family. “At the end of the day, family is the most important thing,” she said. “It was just time for a new chapter. The dealership needed new leadership that could really be there and not have any other focus, and my family really needed my focus.”
The company was sold to family friends from Alamosa, Colo., who now run the dealership as Chevrolet Town & Country. “You can’t serve two masters equally,” said Jagers, who was taking on a number of positions at the dealership. “I couldn’t do that and have the flexibility and freedom to go to the hospitals with our mom and our sister.”
At the end of the day, Jagers and Friday-Skoda said they hope their mother will be remembered for her positive community spirit and social contributions. “They just had a lot of fun, and they had amazing friends in Taos,” said Jagers of her parents. “They did a lot of things for the town.”
Friday is survived by her sister Karne Galles Mishce and brother Rick Galles; daughters Debbie Jagers and Elizabeth Friday-Skoda, as well as son-in-law Eddie Joe Abeyta; grandchildren Joseph Jagers, Jacqueline Jagers, “A.J.” Abeyta, Leah Abeyta and great-granddaughter Noelle Anaya.
A memorial Service is set to be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Saturday (May 7) at 2 p.m.
“Judi’s Last Party” will be held at her home at 450 La Posta Road following the service from 3-5 p.m. The family asks, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to Ambercare Hospice of Albuquerque or St. James Episcopal Church in Taos.