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June Eileen Cook Judd

| August 1, 2014 9:00 PM

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June Eileen Cook Judd

June Eileen Cook Judd, beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and civic leader, passed away on July 28, 2014, at North Idaho Hospice House, due to complications from a fractured hip. She was surrounded by her three children.

June was born March 2, 1926, in Lenore, Idaho, to Boyd and Bina 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 advanced quickly through the local grammar school and at age 12 she moved to Lewiston, Idaho, to attend high school, where she worked as a nanny for her room and board.

June 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. June was largely self-supported for the rest of her 88 years.

Growing up, June also learned the value of community service and caring for others. In addition to participating in civic activities, June and her family regularly invited people in for a meal or asked someone who might be alone to join the family for holidays and special occasions.

Due to World War II teacher shortages, June began teaching in 1943 at age 17 in 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, and teach 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 where June drove the school bus and taught school in the one-room schoolhouse, while Harry taught vocational education to veterans. In 1950 the family moved to Orofino, Idaho, where daughters Elaine and Maureen were born. The family then 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, Wash., for nine months where Harry taught vo-ag and chemistry at the high school. Those nine months living in Asotin, which was less than a mile into Washington from the Idaho border, 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 as a county agent. June was a busy homemaker, active in the Sandpoint Methodist Church and in the Sandpoint community. Their 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 clothes for her family and 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 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 10 years. During that time, changing district lines had her representing areas as far north as Hope and Priest River, and as far south as Riggins and 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. She was especially proud to sponsor and gather the legislation to fund Idaho's portion of the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., 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 the 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 grew up determined to have a stable family life, provide a good home for her family, and stay close to her extended family. She loved her family and was very devoted to them, but she was also committed to her faith and church, the State of Idaho, and her alma mater, the University of Idaho. 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 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; stepmother, Ella Cook; brother and sister, Lawrence Cook and Evelyn Cook Calvert; and two grandchildren, Noelle Judd and Joshua Judd.

June is survived by her daughter, Elaine White Harris (Duane) of Spokane Valley, Wash., grandson Ryan White (Jenn) of Virginia; step-grandchildren Katie Harris of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Matt Harris of Boise, Idaho; her daughter Maureen Edwards Wagner Martin (Don) of Coeur d'Alene; grandson Shawn Edwards of Tacoma, Wash., granddaughter Brook Edwards (Eli Meyer) of Eugene, Ore., great-grandson Ari Edwards-Meyer; step grandchildren Jamie Young (Will Young) and Aaron Martin; her son Norman Judd (Lynda) of Spokane, Wash., granddaughter Christianna Judd; her brothers Joe Cook (Wanda) of Lewiston, Idaho and David Cook (Marcia) of Las Vegas, Nev., brothers-in-law Golan Calvert of Lewiston, Idaho and Bill McKinnon of Weippe, Idaho; 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.

There will be a Celebration of June's Life at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at the Community Presbyterian Church, 1100 W. College Ave., St. Maries. A luncheon will follow in the church social hall. Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Fraser Cemetery along Highway 11 near Orofino, Idaho. Following the graveside service there will be a lunch gathering at the Fraser Community Center (formerly Fraser School) where June started teaching in 1943.

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 (funding 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.