Judy L. Jacobus Cota passed away on Aug. 2, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Nov. 26, 1944, in Aberdeen, Washington to Walter Benton Jacobus and Nina Lee Booher.

Judith lived in Elma, Washington and attended Hunters Prairie School then moved to Westport and attended Ocosta School while her parents owned The Gables Motel. She eventually moved back to Elma, where life took her in a different direction.

She married Al Cota on Jan. 20, 1961 and did not graduate in 1964 as intended. After a move to Tacoma in 1969, she found her calling to become a hairdresser and attended Mr. Lee Beauty School in 1975. She worked in Puyallup at Willows Chalet for Mark and Merle Nemmick, then finally returned to the Elma-McCleary area in 1978 where she worked with Myrna Helser at Haus of Hair and purchased the salon. Many years later she sold the salon, but continued to work there until age 75. She considered her coworkers as family, and she treasured her clients. She was a very loving and generous lady who adored her family. She was a 50-year member of the Lady Auxiliary – Eagles FOE, a long-time member of Moose Club and a member of Montesano VFW.

Judy is survived by her daughter Suzie (Matt), her brother Jim Jacobus, her three grandchildren: Zane, Sierra and Seth, and a great-grandson Jaysen. She was preceded in death by her husband Al in 2019, her sister Janet Lee Ross in 2005, Nina Lee Minzy in 1992, and Walter Jacobus in 1964.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 at 12 p.m. in Elma at Eagles FOE.