Judy Robards Taylor

“A Joyful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 18:24

Judy Robards Taylor of Ocean Shores, Washington, passed away in her sleep on Dec. 16, 2019. Born to Nina and Jim Robards on Nov. 15, 1951, in Kent, Washington, Judy was to be their only child. She was the pride and delight of her parents’ life. Judy fought a courageous battle against diabetes, implacable even after she lost her leg to the disease.

Judy was a beautiful baby, and her parents had waited so long for her arrival. She grew up in North Park in the 1950s. Judy was always adept at friend making and she always had many! She made lifelong friends at Kent Elementary, Kent Junior High and Kent Meridian High School. Judy met more new friends at Western Washington University, when she moved into a dorm as a freshman. “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17

Judy graduated from high school with a clear vision of her future. She was always gifted at sewing, making Barbie doll clothes for the whole neighborhood! Now Judy continued her mastery of sewing and tailoring in home economics classes in high school. Her first teaching job in 1975 was teaching sewing at Colville High School. Judy loved being in the presence of high-schoolers. She found their company amusing and delightful. Her quick wit and comic perspective served her well in those first few years of teaching as she sought her teaching style.

In 1978, Judy decided to go back to college to obtain a master’s degree in high school counseling. Judy was an excellent student — intelligent and determined. While studying for her master’s, Judy met Michael Taylor, who was studying to become an Episcopal priest. They fell in love and were married from 1981 to 1990.

Next Judy worked at Eatonville High School as a counselor. Twenty years later, Judy decided on another career path. Judy began studying to become a high school psychologist. Soon after she graduated again, she obtained a school psychologist position at Taholah High School. Judy also worked for South Bend, Cosmopolis and Aberdeen school districts as a psychologist. Judy was always happiest when she was the most productive.

Judy had a successful career as a teacher, counselor and high school psychologist. She earned enough college credits for a doctoral degree. Judy was nicknamed Judy “Go” Robards as a child, because she was always doing many difficult things at once and was never quite satisfied with the status quo.

Judy loved her beach house in Ocean Shores. She bought the lot and had it built to her vision, all in rapid order. Judy loved walking her dogs Claire and Charlie on the beach, always in search of seashells.

Judy had many talents and had studied mightily over the years. But she was also adventurous. She trained to be a veterinary assistant for the World Canine Health Organization. Judy traveled around the world assisting in canine care in countries that could not afford it. She traveled to Romania, Nicuragua, Madagascar and Costa Rica giving medical care to homeless canines. Her unabating love of animals urged her on to more adventures. Judy volunteered as a vet assistant while being a full-time school psychologist! “And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 6:10

Judy retired from teaching, counseling and her psychologist positions in 2010. She spent eight more happy years in her cozy beach home, always busy with a project or four.

In 2018 Judy began to feel a numbness in her left foot. The numbness crept up her leg. She was sent to emergency at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. From that day, Judy endured 10 torturous surgeries on her left leg, ending finally in amputation.

“Friend, Go up Higher…” Samuel 1 18:1

Judy did not lose her spirit even after she lost her leg. She worked tirelessly at physical therapy and learning to walk with an artificial leg she named “Jenny”.

Intelligent, comical, generous, kind, fun-loving, loyal and true, Judy will be so missed by her loving friends.

“A woman that has friends, must show herself friendly. And there are friends who stick closer than a sister.” Proverbs 18:24