Judie Lyon of Anacortes, Washington passed away peacefully at Island Hospital on April 15, 2023. Her son Jim, Diana (Jim’s partner), granddaughter Nicole (Jim’s daughter), her daughter Shelly, Jerald Watson (Judie’s partner), Jerald’s daughter Jerri, and some of her nieces were at her side.
Judie was born on August 13, 1943 in Shelby, Montana. She was one of three children that included her sister Myrna, and her brother Bill. Their parents were Roy and Gladys (Tiny) Polinkus. When Judie was quite young, the family left Montana for new opportunities in Anacortes, Washington.
Judie did her schooling in Anacortes and shortly after graduating, she met her first husband James Larsen and together they had a son, Jim. After a brief marriage she later met her second husband Ken Lyon, and they married November 1st, 1968. Ken having two young children of his own, Judie lovingly went on to adopt them to become an instant family of five. In 1969 Ken and Judie gave birth to daughter Martha and in 1971 to daughter Tauna, making them a large family of seven. Judie and Ken also provided additional love and support to Judie's sister's five young girls, Kathy, Shirley, Denise, Bobbie and Toni.
They lived and raised the family in Bow, Washington before later relocating to Anacortes, where Judie grew up and her own parents still resided. Judie was a natural homemaker, busy raising their five children and running the family home while Ken managed a successful construction company.
Later, after all the kids were grown, Judie and Ken hopped in their RV for an adventure to spend some time in Palm Springs, California and Arizona before returning to Anacortes to live with their eldest son Jim and his partner Diana.
The family spent many happy days boating in the San Juan Islands, camping around the great Northwest, traveling to Canada, Hawaii, Nevada and Montana. Judie always enjoyed a good BBQ at home or at Washington Park; one of her many favorite places. Judie always had an open door to all that knew her. It was always the more the merrier in her eyes. She had a love for the outdoors, whether it was playing baseball, basketball, tennis and who can forget the badminton games in the front yard every summer. She could be found most weekends preparing for her famous garages sales or out browsing others. Never taking a lesson, Judie could be found beautifully playing the organ for all to hear, especially around Christmas time. In recent years, she enjoyed going to classic car shows with Jerald, her partner, and sitting at his house enjoying a great fire with friends and feeding the neighborhood squirrels along with her favorite that she named Hannah. She also enjoyed watching Jerald’s grandsons racing their motorcycles at Hannagan Speedway. Judie loved taking her beloved dog Rudy for car rides looking for deer and squirrels every weekend with her son Jim.
After Ken sadly passed away (March 2017), Jim and Diana continued to live and care for Judie through several health challenges. As Judie’s health declined the last few months before passing, Diana became her full-time care giver, giving Judie the love and support she needed as she would her own mother. Her son Jim was a constant support and help as well, along with daughter Shelly. A big thank you to the individual nurses and Alpha Home Health and Hospice care our mom received.
Judie is survived by her children James (Jim) Larsen, Jr. and partner Diana McBride of Anacortes, WA, son Kurt and Kristin Lyon of Meridian, Idaho, daughter Shelly and Jeff Hiett of Alger, WA, daughter Martha and Pete Redpath of Bellingham, WA and daughter Tauna and Robert Ingall of Harpenden, England. Judie was blessed with seventeen grandchildren and many great grandchildren all of whom she loved dearly. Judie will also be missed by her beloved partner Jerald Watson and his family, her brother Bill and wife Jan, brother-in-law Albert Lyon and endless cousins, nieces and nephews.
An opportunity to attend a Celebration of Life will be shared in the summer to come.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Humane Society or American Heart Association.
