Obituary: Judd, June Eileen (Cook)
The oldest of five children raised on a farm during the Great Depression, June experienced economic hardships and learned to work hard and be frugal.
She also learned the value of community service and caring for others.
In addition to participating in civic activities she and her family were regularly inviting people in for a meal or asking someone who might be alone to join the family for holidays and special occasions.
June grew up determined to have a stable family life, provide a good home for her family, and stay close to her extended family.
In addition to her devotion and love for her family she was committed to her faith and church, the State of Idaho, and the University of Idaho—alma mater to her and most of her family.
She loved camping, picnics, picking huckleberries, drives in the mountains, games, dining out and any activities with her family.
She sought continual learning and was an avid reader of five regional newspapers.
June was born March 2, 1926 at Lenore, Idaho to Boyd and Bina Cook.
She advanced quickly through the local grammar school and at age 12 she moved to Lewiston to attend high school, where she worked as a nanny for her room and board.
June was largely self-supported for the rest of her 88 years.
She transferred to Lapwai High School for her senior year, graduating in 1942, and then attended Lewiston Normal School (now Lewis-Clark State College) for one year.
Due to WWII teacher shortages she began teaching in 1943 at age 17 at the one-room Fraser School near Greer, Idaho where the teacher also had to make fires in the stove, haul water from the well, prepare a hot lunch dish, handle the janitorial duties, in addition to teaching grades 1-8.
She boarded with local farmer and school board member Lawrence Judd and his wife Bell, where she became best friends with their daughter, Verla, and met her future husband, their son Harry.
June remained close to the Judd family after transferring to teach at a school in the Lewiston Orchards in 1945.
She and Harry started dating in the fall of 1948 and were married on June 14, 1949 (Flag Day so Harry would always remember his anniversary).
June and Harry made their home in Lenore, Idaho where June taught at the one-room school and drove school bus while Harry taught vocational education to veterans.
In 1950 the family moved to Orofino, Idaho, where daughters Elaine and Maureen were born.
The family moved to Moscow, Idaho and lived in “Vets Village” while Harry attended the University of Idaho on the GI Bill.
After Harry’s graduation the family moved to Asotin, WA for nine months where Harry taught vo-ag and chemistry at the high school.
This nine months living less than a mile into Washington was June’s only time living outside the State of Idaho.
June and family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho in 1955 where Harry went to work for the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Service (County Agent).
June was a busy homemaker, plus was active in the Sandpoint Methodist Church and the Sandpoint community.
Son Norman was born in 1958.
In 1959 Harry became the lead Extension Agent for Benewah County and the family moved to St. Maries, Idaho.
June was the model housewife - tending the house, gardening, cooking great meals, canning/freezing, sewing not only her children’s and her clothes but also drapes for the new house.
She was active in the Community Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and an Elder; led 4-H groups for her children and other youth in the community; and participated in several civic organizations.
June returned to teaching full time in the St. Maries Schools in 1969 and taught there from 1969 to 1990.
Putting together a mix of summer school, workshops, and short courses from the University of Idaho, she finished her four-year degree and graduated with a BS in Elementary Education in 1972.
After Harry passed away in 1974, June continued her education in the summers and graduated with a Masters in Reading Education from the University of Idaho in 1982.
June retired from teaching in 1990 and that same year was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives, serving for ten years to 2000.
During that time changing district lines had her at times representing areas as far north as Hope and Priest River and as far south as Riggins, Idaho and generally from the Washington to the Montana borders.
June’s political alignment came out of her background with farmers, loggers, millworkers and miners when the Democratic Party represented their interests.
She was a conservative “Reagan Democrat.”
June rose to the position of Assistant Minority Leader during her time in the Legislature.
June was especially proud to sponsor and gather the legislation to fund Idaho’s portion of the WWII memorial in Washington, DC honoring the veterans and service of her generation.
Following her time in the Legislature June remained active in politics and many civic organizations.
Among the civic organizations are PEO, Hughes House Historical Society, Camera Club, Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce.
June lived in St. Maries for 53 years until she moved to Garden Plaza Retirement Center in Post Falls in October 2013.
June was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lewis Judd, her father Boyd Levi Cook, her mother Bina Caroline Raby Cook Eberhardt, stepfathers Herman Eberhardt and Walter Eberhardt, her stepmother Ella Cook, brother Lawrence Cook, sister Evelyn Cook Calvert, and two grandchildren, Noelle Judd and Joshua Judd.
June is survived by her daughter Elaine White Harris (Duane) of Spokane Valley, WA, grandson Ryan White (Jenn) of Virginia and step grandchildren Katie Harris of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Matt Harris of Boise, Idaho; daughter Maureen Edwards Wagner Martin (Don) of Coeur d’Alene, grandson Shawn Edwards of Tacoma, WA, granddaughter Brook Edwards (Eli Meyer) of Eugene, OR, great-grandson Ari Edwards-Meyer and step grandchildren Jamie Young (Will Young) and Aaron Martin; son Norman Judd (Lynda) of Spokane, WA and granddaughter Christianna Judd.
In addition she is survived by brothers Joe Cook (Wanda) of Lewiston, Idaho and David Cook (Marcia) of Las Vegas, NV, brothers-in-law Golan Calvert of Lewiston, ID and Bill McKinnon of Weippe, ID plus numerous nieces, nephews and their families.
The family wishes to thank the many people who helped June stay in her home for so long, including Phu and Ahn Cong, Dale and Robin Baerlocher, John and Ruby Flerchinger, George and Delores Collinge, homecare workers from North Idaho Partners in Care and many others in the St. Maries Community.
The family also thanks Hospice of North Idaho, the staff of Hospice House at Hummingbird Fields and the staff of Ivy Court for their care in June’s final days and efforts to make her comfortable.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Judd Family Memorial Scholarship Fund at the St. Maries branch of US Bank that will fund scholarships to the University of Idaho; the Fraser Community Center, care of Donna Brown, 2310 Cottonwood Road, Orofino, ID 83544, or Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.
There will be a viewing Thursday evening July 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Hodge Funeral Home, 138 South Eighth Street, St. Maries, ID.
There will be a Celebration of June’s Life 11 am, Friday, August 1, 2014 at the Community Presbyterian Church, 1100 West College Avenue, St. Maries followed by a luncheon in the church social hall.
Graveside services will be 11:00 am, Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the Fraser Cemetery along Highway 11 near Orofino Idaho.
Following that service there will be a lunch gathering at the Fraser Community Center, formerly Fraser School, where June started teaching in 1943.