Cecilia Kay Hudgens

Cecilia Kay Hudgens, PhD, (1941 - 2025), a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and classical music master, passed away on December 31, 2025 at a nursing home with her husband, Gary Hudgens by her side. Born in Krum, TX, Cecilia received a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from North Texas State University in Denton, TX. She also later received her PhD in Early Childhood Education from the school.

Cecilia’s talents playing the piano won her many accolades, to include being named to “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges,” and winning the Amarillo Symphony piano concerto contest and appeared as a guest pianist in 1963.

She was a member of TMTA, Temple Music Club, Community Concert Board of Directors, and created and directed the Temple Children’s Choir, the first and only of its kind. She taught music in schools from elementary to university, and had a waiting list for her private piano instruction for many years. While working as the head of the piano department at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Cecilia created a program of music awareness for preschool children who demonstrated potential musical talent. Cecilia’s talents in the kitchen were legendary and were highlighted in a self-published cookbook aptly named "B Natural Cooking,” in which she shared credit with her favorite cooking partner, grandson Michael Cochran.

Cecilia married Gary in 1969 and they had two daughters, Holly (Cochran) and Heather (Armstrong). Cecilia is also survived by six grandchildren: Christina Clark, Michael Cochran, Cecil Armstrong, Cyrus Armstrong, Tyler Buck and Lexie Buck, and great-grandson Cayden Clark. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Troy United Methodist Church on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 2pm. Burial services will be held Saturday at Belfalls Cemetery for immediate family. Cecilia asks that in lieu of flowers, to make a donation to the Humane Society, as she never met a dog she didn’t like.