Judy MOODY MORRIS

August 8, 1946 - March 29, 2024

Spokane - Judy Fern Moody Morris was born on August 8, 1946, in Tulare, California. She grew up on the family farm, which primarily grew cotton. Her grandmother taught at her local rural elementary school and Judy was her pupil. She was a graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, where she was the esteemed editor of the school newspaper, for which she earned a higher education scholarship. In 1966, she competed in the Miss American Pageant for Tulare County, placing runner-up. Judy was a proud student at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, and graduated in 1968 with a degree in Physical Education. After graduation, she worked one year as a PE teacher, finding it did not suit her. She moved to Los Angeles and worked in advertising for the firm representing Mattel Toys until 1972. She then took a sabbatical to ski and work at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe. She married Jon Sunderland of Porterville, CA, (1974-1983). They moved to Eugene, Oregon, where Judy again worked in TV advertising. In 1980, she moved to Spokane, Washington, where she held various positions in advertising, public relations, and marketing. Throughout her career, she also ran a successful side business matting and framing pictures. In 1983, she was a founder and board member of PRO, Professional Resource Options. Other professional accomplishments include Board of Directors, then Executive Director of Spokane Advertising Federation, and Board Member of Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Adventuring with her second husband, Lew Richard Morris, of Spokane, WA, (1989-2001) she enjoyed camp hosting during the summer in Canada and exploration of the Hawaiian Island Kauai in the winter. With her love of outdoor sports, and skiing specifically, Judy was ecstatic to be selected and to serve as a volunteer for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics; alpine skiing course crew. In January 2006, she became the heroic survivor of a single-car accident, resulting in an internal decapitation. Judy's persistent, upbeat personality served her well as she worked diligently for 18 months to sit, stand, walk, talk, eat, and live on her own again. Judy enjoyed traveling, tennis, sewing, cross-stitch, quilting, gardening, and canning. She was an UNAPOLOGETIC lover of cats! Judy died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on March 29, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fern Moody (Milem) and Warren "Spike" Moody. She is survived by sisters, Sandra Newman of Oshkosh, Nebraska, and Laverne Moody-Polak of Visalia, California; and several beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. A celebration of Judy's life will be held on Thursday, June 6, at 2:00pm, at Sunset Chapel, in the SW corner of Fairmount Memorial Gardens, located at West 5200 Wellesley Avenue, Spokane, WA.