Judith F. Carrick

Judith (“Judy”) Frances Wyscaver Carrick was born in Superior, Nebraska, on January 9,

1940, to Rex and Alta Wyscaver (nee Truex). In 1958 she graduated from Castle Rock High

School in Washington, where she was a straight-A student and the class valedictorian.

She attended Lower Columbia Junior College for two years before completing her education

at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, majoring in Junior High Education.

It was at CWSC that she met her future husband, George Gray Carrick.

Judy graduated in 1962 and took a job teaching Language Arts at Sunnyside Junior High

School; he followed a year later and taught Social Studies at the same school. After their

marriage in 1963, they purchased a home in Sunnyside and had one son, Chad (born 1969).

George retired in 1994, but Judith continued teaching until 2007, completing 45 years

in the classroom. After formal retirement, she returned for one year as a “Retire/Rehire”

teacher at Harrison Middle School, then continued to spend time at both middle schools

in Sunnyside as a substitute teacher and as a classroom volunteer.

As a Language Arts (and later Social Studies) teacher, Judith was hardworking,

conscientious, and always open to new ideas. When Sunnyside Junior High School

transformed into Harrison Middle School, she served on transition committees and willingly

accepted the challenge of teaching American History as well as Language Arts in the new

8th grade two-period Bloc. Beginning in 1999, she also served as 8th Grade Bloc Leader

(department head) at Harrison.

In 2006, she transferred to the newer middle school (Sierra Vista) and then returned

to Harrison for the 2007-2008 school year. As a substitute teacher, she spent time

in Special Ed classrooms for the first time in her long career. Her classroom atmosphere

was well-organized, smoothly run, kind and respectful of students, and her style was highly

professional.

Judith was very involved in the community, but she spent a great deal of time with her

husband and son, with whom she shared interests such as films, a variety of TV programs,

books, current events, and caring for the animal members of the family. She read a lot,

loved browsing in book stores, and participated in a local book club. She and her late

husband enjoyed trips to Rimrock Lake, the Pacific Coast, and Hawaii, as well as a trip

to Indiana and Kentucky to visit her sister. She went with friends to New York City,

Washington D.C., and Seattle. She enjoyed plays in Seattle as well as at the Capitol Theatre

in Yakima and Princess Theatre in Prosser, and she attended the Town Hall lecture series

in Yakima.

She was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (serving as lay reader,

Eucharistic Minister, vestry member, representative to the yearly diocesan convention,

and member of the ECW women's group). Recently she had been leading a Bible Study

Group at Holy Trinity, but she also enjoyed meeting with the women's group at the

Sunnyside Presbyterian Church. She was an active member (and sometimes office

holder) in a variety of community groups, including Delta Kappa Gamma, PEO, Friends

of the Library, and the Sunnyside Museum Board.

Judith died on September 22, 2017. She is survived by her son Chad and her sister,

Beverly Wayscaver Wattula of Crandall, Indiana, as well as family pets Calli and Mia.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Sunnyside

at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 7. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to

the Holy Trinity Memorial Fund. Those wishing to sign Judy's online memorial book

may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com (Smith Funeral Home is in charge of

arrangements).

 

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