Judy, 66, passed away peacefully early in the morning on July 18, 2017 at her home on Orcas Island with her husband Dennis and daughter Tessa by her side.
She will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, love of animals, and time spent in nature and the outdoors. She was happiest when she was active. During her younger years, she loved riding her horse Gypsy, competing in gymnastics in high school, and razor-clamming on the coast with her parents and sisters. Later she enjoyed playing volleyball, camping, skiing, boating, gardening and hiking, including climbing Mt. Rainier.
She met her future husband Dennis while playing volleyball, and together they climbed, skied, hiked, and kayaked throughout the Northwest and Canada. Judy loved telling how she was married on skinny skis with a Gore-Tex wedding parka in Mazama.
After the birth of their daughter, Judy enjoyed travel with her family, including trips to Norway, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. As they spent more time on Orcas Island building a retirement home, she cherished time with her new neighbors and morning coffee friends.
Over the past eight years, she faced brain cancer with the same spirit, positive attitude and sense of humor she exhibited all her life. She remained active as long as possible with workouts, yoga, and walks with her dog Angel to her favorite coffee shop to get her reward: a latte.
Judy was born and raised in the Shoreline area and graduated from Shoreline High School and the University of Washington. She was a risk manager for several technology companies until cancer intervened. Judy spent many hours volunteering at Tessa’s schools, sports, and music activities. Last year she was proud to see her daughter graduate from the U.W.
She will be deeply missed by her husband Dennis and daughter Tessa, her sisters Carole Kleve of Honolulu, Hawaii and Linda DeForest of Port Ludlow, Washington, her nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her sister Elaine Whitaker.
Donations in Judy’s memory may be made to the San Juan Preservation Trust, PO Box 759, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Indicate “IMO Judy Vollrath” on the memo line. Online at https://sjpt.org. A private Celebration of Judy’s Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Evan’s Funeral Chapel and Crematory Inc., Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Judy, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com
