Judith F. Carrick
January 9, 1940 ~ September 22, 2017 (age 77) 77 Years OldShare using:
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).