My Best Friend Judy

How can I describe and pay my respect to my beautiful friend Judy? She was the most incredible person. She loved everyone and everything, even spiders and snakes! She had the biggest, tenderest heart that continuously poured out love. She didn't have an "easy" life, but she met those challenges with love and care, and always tried to show God's love by her actions.

Judy was the Nurse Manager of all of the Pediatric Clinics at UC Davis when I first met her. She hired me as a clinic nurse working in the Pediatric Specialty Clinics. She saved me off a rough night-shift position at the hospital to be able to work with children like I wanted to, with the bonus of days Monday through Friday! She was the best boss I ever had. She cared about each of the people who worked for her, and actively advocated for them to advance their skills. She was so knowledgeable and such a resource for everyone. Later we both had changed jobs a couple of times and we ended up working together again in the Child Neurology Clinic, which was part of the MIND Institute for a while. Judy's sense of humor and her unique language always brought smiles and happiness. She freely shared her skills and knowledge of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Reiki (energy work). Judy and I took the Reiki courses together but she used it and offered it freely to those who wanted it, including her cats. She helped many people and animals.

Judy was searching for deeper meaning of life, and we had many discussions. She came to Gospel Meetings, and felt God speaking to her. Her relationship with God changed her life and she wanted to follow Jesus the rest of her life. Those relationships brought her so much peace, contentment and hope. We shared many struggles, joys, failures and victories throughout the years. We could talk for hours about so many things. These are some pictures of those early times visiting at our house, with Steve and Dawn playing with Jeremy while Judy and I talked. Not shown, but especially remembered and enjoyed by Jeremy was that Steve would put him in a pillowcase and carry him around that way!

I miss Judy every day. I'm happy for her that she doesn't have any more pain, and that she is home. I just miss my best friend and am to thankful to have had her in my life. Thank you Dawn for all of your care of Judy and for creating this site where we can remember all Judy. Love you Judy.

One of the things in the years after we both retired that we loved to do together was to go off on an adventure for the day. It didn't matter that Judy couldn't walk very far, or if she didn't get out of the car- we still found adventures. We usually would just pick a direction to drive and start out. We didn't often have specific goals, except if we were going north, we would try to stop by Ellen Larson's if our schedule allowed. We ended up calling ourselves "The JJ's".

I'll share a few of those adventures both by words and photos. One of our favorite places to go was Grey Lodge Wildlife Area near Gridley. Judy was a "birder" and loved to watch birds. Grey Lodge has an auto drive around where you can see so many migrating birds. We could stop the car in different areas and just sit and watch the various birds.

While we were watching we also enjoyed our many chats- some were funny and we would have a great laugh. Other times we had serious conversions, knowing we could share and discuss almost anything.

Bodega Bay

I think I terrified Judy as I drove down Lombard Street in San Francisco, both driving and taking pictures 😮 but she was a good sport.

Judy got her revenge. We went to see the Sandhill crane migration at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve near Lodi. It was just at the beginning of the migratory season, and there weren't too many people there. A man came up to our car, and asked if he could interview us about the cranes. Judy volunteered me- and somehow I ended up on the local evening news, showing that I knew nothing about sandhill cranes other than I enjoyed looking at them 😂

We explored the foothills and the Sierras.

And the Delta and the free ferry rides!!

Closer to home we sometimes would just get a sandwich and find a local park to eat lunch

Judy loved turkeys, and we always watched for them. For a while she had turkeys visiting her in her front yard

We watched a huge flock of turkeys walk across the road down by the American River, then they flew up into the oak trees to roost for the night.

And other birds

Most of all she loved God, Jesus, and people

I think this is my favorite picture of Judy. Shawna and Ruby Richtsmeier and I were riding with Judy to Maria Siegel's baby shower. This is after the car was parked but before we went in.

Wednesday night meeting years ago at Max and Ellen's house

Chris, Judy and Ruby

Judy, Ivory and Ruby Richtsmeier

Jessie Bunch Cleary and Judy