Judith Caughlan Obituary

JUDITH "JUDY" H. CAUGHLAN
May 17, 1944 ~ May 22, 2011
"She was a fun-loving, happy person
who saw the good in all people and situations."

Judith H. Caughlan "Judy", 67, died at home in Vancouver, WA, of a brain disease, on May 22, 2011. She was born May 17, 1944 in St. Louis, MO to Richard and Helen (Arnold) Hoekel. She spent her childhood there and graduated from Normandy High School.
Judy met her husband, Charlie Caughlan, while attending the University of Missouri and they were married in Webster Groves, MO in 1966. While he worked for the Forest Service, they lived at various Ranger Districts in Oregon, Washington and Florida.
She had a lifelong passion for learning. During her life, she earned her Bachelor's degrees in education and history at the University of Missouri, studied in master's programs at the University of Oregon and Oregon State, and held several associate degrees from Clark College and Lake Sumter College. Judy's last degree was obtained in 1996 when she earned a paralegal degree from Lake Sumter College. She also ran the Lake Sumter College computer lab. Judy held teaching positions at all levels of education. For a time, she was the director and teacher at Life Skills Institute. She was the first female park ranger at Fort Vancouver National Park; she worked at the Veterans Administration in Portland in the research library; and she was as a paralegal for the NAACP lawyer, Harley Herman, in Florida. Judy was also a talented artist and poet. Her talent can be seen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehP0aFZMgKE in her tribute to the May 18th Mount St. Helens eruption. She was also a girl's softball coach and Blue Bird leader. Judy loved the outdoors, hiking, bird watching and genealogy.
Her family was her greatest joy. Some of her greatest memories were of the yearly camping trips with her husband and children.
She was a member of Unity of Vancouver and National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. She loved her cat Phil.
Throughout her life, Judy had a deep faith in God and routinely started each day with meditation and reading her prayers. She had great sense of humor and found humor no matter what the circumstance. Judy rarely said anything negative about anyone. She loved to talk and could chatter about any subject. One of her joys was to give gifts to friends and family.
Judy is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charlie Caughlan; daughter, Cathy and Dave Sbur and their son, John of Vancouver, WA; son, Michael and Michaela Caughlan and their daughter, Stella of Walnut Creek, CA; her mother, Helen Hoekel and sister, Patricia Schmidt of St. Louis, MO; 13 nephews and nieces; and lifelong friends, Bob and Harriet Roll, Carol and Tom Myer, Butch and Margaret Martin, Jerry and Jan Myer, Tim and Bonnie Tuttle and Richard Hammond.
The family especially wants to thank the volunteer caregivers and Hospice Southwest who helped her and her family during her illness.
Judy's memorial service will be at the Unity of Vancouver Church, 3814 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA, at 12 p.m. on Sat., May 28.
In lieu of flowers, Judy would wish that donations be made to Unity of Vancouver.
Please sign Judy's guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on May 24, 2011.
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Memories and Condolences
for Judith Caughlan

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Dear Charlie.....I have just recently been thinking about you and Judy....missing you both at the Illinois Interest Group meetings. You two always had such GOOD stuff to share with us. Hope maybe you can join us again in the Fall? My prayers are with you now at this time,

Harlene Patterson Portland, Oregon

June 1, 2011

Dear Charlie, Cathy and Michael,
Please accept my sympath at this sad time. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved wife & mother. Judy was a wonderful friend. Tom and I enjoyed being with Judy and Charlie. I really enjoyed the time we visited in Portland and she & I went shopping. She said she "needed some new cloths for work." we had fun trying different outfits on - then we all went to lunch. We meet up with Charlie and Tom later for dinner. That was a happy time.
Charlie, when you and Judy came to visit us in Bremerton that was so nice. I will always remember those and all the other great times we had together. Judy was a loving mother and grandmother. She and Charlie always shared the latest news about the family. She will be missed by so many. I'm just one who has lost a dear friend.

Virginia Nettleton

May 28, 2011

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Karen (McMurry) Warr

May 27, 2011

Charlie and Family,
Judy will be greatly missed by all of the people who's lives she touched. May she rest in peace.

Carol and Neil Hall

May 27, 2011

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Karen Frost (CCGS)

May 27, 2011

Mike and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. God bless you and your family.

Matt O'Connell

May 26, 2011

Charlie, Sorry to hear about your loss. May you and family find peace in the beautiful life Judy lived and comfort in the love and joy you all shared. Take Care, your friend, Fred Dorn

May 26, 2011

Charlie and Family:
Judy was a vibrant part of the local NARFE family and her talent, service and humor touched us all. You have been and will continue to be in our prayers. May God grant you strength, courage, comfort and peace now and in the days ahead.

Dave/Lois Bauman

May 26, 2011

Charlie, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Mike Tuominen

May 26, 2011

Dear Charlie, I like many was sorry to hear Judy had passed on. She was an a generous, kind and loving person. When she would visit the C.C. Museum she always greeted me with a smile and held my hand. I was so touched to watch how you took care of Judy as she faded. God Bless You.

Jeanie Arbour

Jeanie

May 25, 2011

fond memories

ron and eva mae sparley

May 25, 2011

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

RONNE HARSHMAN

May 25, 2011

I went to elementary and high school with Judy. Our paths never crossed after high school, but it saddened me to learn of her death. Many fond memories of the past flooded back when I thought about Judy.

Barb Bildner Rengers

May 25, 2011

Charlie, Judy and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers during these past months. I thank God for Judy's life and for the wonderful care you and your children gave her. May you all find peace in your wonderful memories of such a special person. Cat and Jerry

mary and jerry risch

May 25, 2011

Charlie: My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. Judy was one of the kindest, loving souls that I ever had the pleasure to meet and I remember how much she loved to laugh. I really admired the relationship that you and Judy shared; not only loving husband and wife but best friends. I know that Judy will be missed by all who knew her but she will be remembered in the smell of a sweet flower, the flutter of butterfly wings and the song of the birds. God bless you and your family with the joy of beautiful memories.

Love,
Pat Lynch

May 25, 2011

Charlie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God be especially close to you during this difficult time. Vicki Michael (HDAH)

May 25, 2011

I grew up and lived four doors down from Judy all through grade school, junior high and high school. In fact, while in grade school and probably some in junior high, we played sandlot football in her front yard. There was no driveway between her house and my friend's house so that became our field. Judy's driveway was actually one end zone. My memories of Judy are of her kindness and intellect. Her parents were probably equally kind letting use their yard as our football field. It's not at all surprising to me that her life would be filled with accomplishments. I'm also quite sure she and her sister thought of us boys as 'very mean and crude'. But we were just typical boys. It saddens me to learn of her passing, my sincere condolences to her family. It also reminds me of just how detached I am from the rest of my Normandy classmates. Judy, rest in peace. Bobby Freund

Bobby Freund

May 25, 2011

I remember many fun and interesting conversations with Judy in High School. I didn't know until I read her obit she was, like myself, someone who attended Unity and did meditation,readings each morning and wrote poetry. Rosemarie Quigley Ambs

May 25, 2011

I knew Judy at Normandy Highschool as a beautiful and amazing woman. I was stunned to read of her passing. Judy will be missed by all. Richard Lowrey, St. Louis, MO.

May 25, 2011

Judy,the beauty of your life has touched so many for so long. You will be missed by all you left behind

Dennis Thorp

May 24, 2011

judy you will be missed from the four corners of the world, you have touched the skies with your beauty of life and all who knew you are the better for it.

dennis thorp

May 24, 2011

I knew Judy in high school and at University of Missouri. I am glad that she had such an interesting life!

Jim Worthey

May 24, 2011

Charlie & family; I am so very sorry to learn of your loss of Judy. Words cannot express fully my feelings except to say you all and Judy are in my daily prayers. I still remember our lunches at the German Deli and the last one in particular with her wonderful humor and love of life.
Don Finel

May 24, 2011

Charlie, My prayers are with you. I thought of the two of you often. God Bless you and your family.
Marney Petty

May 24, 2011

I will miss her. She was such a good person, mother and wife.
Her loving Husband,
Charlie

Charles Caughlan

May 24, 2011

Charlie, my deepest condolences to you and your family. We will miss Judy. Love you. CJ Joyce and Susan Deen

CJ Joyce

May 24, 2011

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